Oliver Says Schilling Worth Bob Each-way

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday November 16, 2007

John Schell and Craig Young

DAMIEN Oliver has stuck solid with trainer Mick Price and is hoping the association will pay dividends when he rides Schilling in Saturday's Sandown Guineas.

Oliver was aboard Schilling in his last-start second to guineas rival Zacroona in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington and took plenty of heart from the effort.

"He drew wide at Flemington and I had to fire him up a bit to go forward," Oliver said on Thursday. "He got left out on his own a fair way from home and it was inevitable that something was going to come at him.

"Even though he was beaten, he fought to the line really strongly. I told connections that day I'd stick for the Sandown Guineas."

Schilling has drawn ideally in barrier four. "From that gate I can hopefully take a sit just behind the lead," Oliver said. "He is a promising horse and I think that ridden that way he'll be able to show his acceleration when clear in the straight."

Schilling is joined in the guineas by stablemate El Mandon to be ridden by Craig Newitt.

Lure for champions

The battle is on to entice Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Takeover Target and fellow Coffs Harbour resident Natural Destiny to Randwick for next month's resumption of metropolitan racing.

Both competed up north over the summer-New Year period, and Natural Destiny last year became the first horse to win a three-leg sprinting triple crown.

The first Sydney metropolitan meeting since the equine influenza outbreak is scheduled for Randwick on December 1 and a $100,000 Quality Handicap over 1200 metres is on the agenda.

Three weeks later, the Razor Sharp will be run under the same conditions and the Villiers Handicap on January 5 has been reduced from 1600m to 1400m and is worth $150,000.

"It would be a great result to get two of the best sprinters in Australia racing at Randwick next month," Racing NSW general manager racing and commercial Greg Rudolph said.

Rudolph was working with the relevant government bodies to ensure horse movement restrictions will be lifted in time to allow the pair to race in Sydney and then return to Coffs Harbour.

Natural Destiny barrier trialled at Port Macquarie on Wednesday and scored a 12-length win.

Rodd riding on

Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Michael Rodd will ride at Moonee Valley on Friday night and Sandown on Saturday before slipping into relaxation mode.

Rodd enjoyed a career highlight in guiding Efficient to victory in the Cup, one of the jockey's four group 1s for the spring.

He will be aboard the Greg Eurell-trained Fire In The Night in the Sandown Classic and Sharkbite in the Sandown Stakes.

"Fire In The Night won well at Caulfield on cup day and his only run since, when third to Flash Trick on Melbourne Cup day, was full of merit, too," Rodd said. "While he is up to weight-for-age on Saturday he is racing well ... he is not hopeless."

Next week Rodd will head to Perth as a guest at the Carbine Club luncheon in the lead-up to the Railway Stakes meeting at Ascot. Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh will also be in attendance.

After that, Rodd and girlfriend Cara Aspinall will head overseas for a well-earned break.

Jockey crisis looms

The Australian Jockey Association has called for urgent meetings with ruling racing bodies around the country.

The AJA produced data this week which reveals the number of riders around the country has dropped 43 per cent in the past nine years. Including apprentices, the numbers have dropped in that time from 1448 to 830. "This is a most disturbing trend and immediate action is required to arrest the decline," AJA chairman Ross Inglis said this week.

The association pointed out that in recent years there have been insufficient jockeys to support all race meetings, particularly at carnival and holiday time. It wants to attract young people into the industry and most importantly retain experienced jockeys. There is also some concern jockeys who have drifted away due to the EI outbreak may not come back.

Quadrella boost

Punters are advised the TAB quaddie pool for the Sandown Classic meeting on Saturday has a jackpot of $165,645.48.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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