Jordan Mallyon had his best day in the saddle when he landed his first racing treble.
The former Victorian apprentice won with Morning Mist, The Corporation and in the last race Mallyon, on Nomad, dead-heated with Milken Whiskey in a thriller.
Mallyon had never previously won a double at a meeting and so he achieved both feats on the same day in successive races after earlier winning with Morning Mist.
Mallyon threaded Morning Mist through the eye of the proverbial needle in the home straight.
Mallyon’s chances on the corner were not huge as there was a wall of horses in front and surrounding his mare but he didn’t hesitate when a small gap appeared between Miss Dandy and the wilting Even Astar.
It meant the difference between defeat and victory as Svara also near the rear had to go wide on the turn and failed by only a long head on the line with Miss Dandy a nose away in third place.
The Grant Williams trained mare has now won six from 10 starts.
Why so lightly raced? “Feed and feet,” was the answer from owner Bob Peters. The mare can’t handle a lot of feed, or racing, and Peters said she had never got to three starts in a preparation before.
Mallyon quipped that he wouldn’t have come back to scale if he had not won the race but the old adage about fortune favouring the patient and the brave was aptly demonstrated by his ride.
Mallyon’s win on The Corporation in the penultimate race (seven) was certainly a different role for the five year old gelding that had been brought back from retirement, according to trainer Trevor Andrews.
With no pace on Mallyon decided to lead and The Corporation was relaxed in front and that was the key to his win, Andrews said.
“Every time we have ridden him back in the field he has over raced.”
Andrews admitted the intention was not to lead but to be in the leading division but with no speed on Mallyon made the decision to lead.
They came at him late but Andrews said with the blinkers on he didn’t see them so he didn’t have the chance to “turn it up.”
Topweight, and last start winner, Frenchman, carrying 59.5 kg, looked beaten half way down the straight but he kept on coming and the flashy, powerfully built chestnut is going to win another very shortly based on that close second to The Corporation.
Mallyon’s treble came on Nomad, and that shared win with Milken Whiskey (Marco Chui) gave Simon Miller a double as earlier he had seen his improved galloper Bombora score convincingly (Pat Carbery).
Milken Whiskey was the one that most thought had got there but the photo could not separate them.
Trainer Duane Kitchingman just got off a plane from Los Angeles to see his horse win and fellow trainer Brendon Fitzgerald was left to do the training in the lead-up to the race.
As for Miller, he said, “I’m back,” after Bombora won and he proved it again two races later.
Bombora’s narrow win over the tough galloper Texan on June 16 was full of merit and his comfortable victory last Saturday proved the horse has progressed to be considered a Hannans Handicap prospect at the Kalgoorlie Spring Carnival.
Bombora has started seven times for Miller in his 22 start career for 3 wins, a second, two thirds and a fourth.