Journeyman jockey Jason Lyon has ridden at venues that would have the Leyland Brothers reaching for a map. Today, however, he’ll make a long-awaited appearance at a more recognised venue.
Lyon has ridden on dirt, turf and synthetic tracks from one end of the Australian mainland to the other, not to mention the odd visit out to sea to visit Kangaroo Island in his native South Australia.
Some of the venues Lyon has ridden at – the likes of Lock, Holbrook, Tumbarumba, Newman, Ewan and Tumby Bay – would have the Leyland Brothers reaching for a map.
“I have ridden at over 100 different tracks,” Lyon said. The actual count is 124, Kembla will be 125.
“There would probably only be a few jockeys that have ridden more tracks than me. Michael Heagney would definitely be one but there wouldn’t be many more.
“I would definitely be in the top three currently riding.”
Lyon does stand alone in one respect. The Whyalla-born, one-time apprentice to Hall of Famer Leon Macdonald has ridden a winner in every state and territory in Australia.
Lyon has three rides at Kembla on Tuesday but he would have come if it were only one – specifically, Rumours Abound, who is trained by his good mate Ron Stubbs and with whom he made the 500km road trip on Monday afternoon.
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“If she is the horse I think she is, she’ll be winning on Tuesday,” Lyon said. “I am very confident.
“She is lightning quick. This mare could have easily been unbeaten. Her first start at the 1200m was a bit too far for her, she is just a 1000m (horse) in my opinion. Then obviously she pulled up with bone chips after the Highway and then she pulled-up with some soreness in her mouth after the other run.”
That ‘other run’ was Rumours Abounds’ fading fourth on Albury Gold Cup day on March 22.
Fast forward 59 days and Rumours Abound was back at Albury and back to her best, winning her 900m assignment by four-and-a-half lengths in 51.78sec.
“She has got a high cruising speed and she just smashed them the other day running quick time as well,” Lyon said.
“It was an ordinary race but she did it easy from the outside barrier. I know she is going up a bit in class but we expect her to run really well.
“Being drawn out a bit on Tuesday doesn’t matter. Speed is her MO so we will use it.”
Lyon’s first ride at Kembla will be for another of his trainer friends in Mitchell Beer aboard the Patriot Bloodstock filly Persister, who resumes in the Canadian Club 3YO Maiden Plate over 1000m.
“It doesn’t look the strongest field either,” Lyon said.
“I have watched the horse’s replays. It has trialled really well. She looks like a nice, scopey type of horse
“Mitch has looked after her a bit. I spoke to him (Monday) morning and he is pretty upbeat as well.”
Lyon’s third ride at Kembla on Tuesday is Direct ‘N’ Ready from the Paul Murray stable. He had his first sit on the grandson of More Than Ready at Queanbeyan on May 19 where the horse turned in the best run of his five starts career, beaten a nose in the 2000m Class 1 at odds of $151.
“He is coming back in distance but he is coming off a PB and it’s his home track,” Lyon said.
“He’ll take a little bit of confidence out of that last run.”
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Lever hoping to get Lucky at Kembla
Trainer Claire Lever is hoping the ‘real’ Lucky Star will shine on Tuesday when the Kim Harding-owned-and-bred blueblood steps out for just his second career start in a 1300m Maiden at Kembla.
The Hawkesbury-housed gelding garnered a great deal of respect in the market when making his debut at a rain-soaked Gosford on May 16.
The conditions, coupled with barrier 10 in the field of 10, were major contributors to his underwhelming eighth in the 1200m Maiden.
Trainer Claire Lever. Picture: Laura Lebedeff Photography.
“The track was very heavy out where he was,” Lever explained.
“He just had no luck from that draw and it was his first day out as well so it was just a bit new to him.
“He has a better draw on Tuesday and hopefully he can run up to his trial.”
Lucky Star, a son of Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah out of a mare by English Derby winner New Approach, was hugely impressive winning a Heat at Hawkesbury on April 16 beating subsequent winners Apic Run and Setombe.
Lever, meanwhile, is hoping stablemate and emergency Another Fortune secures a run alongside Lucky Star courtesy of a few absentees.
The son of Cox Plate winner Adelaide handed in a career best performance, albeit at only his third start, when charging past most of his rivals to finish a diminishing length and a half fourth in a recent 1200m Gosford Maiden.
Trainer Claire Lever has four runners at Kembla on Tuesday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
“We went back just because we drew badly and he really flashed home late,” Lever said.
“It probably turned out that he was on the better part of the track but in saying that he has always shown enough potential at home.
“I am happy that he raced like that because he trailled well and didn’t really do too much at his first two starts at his first prep.”
Lever’s day kicks off with Scat Daddy’s grand-daughter Lozen chasing a second win when she goes around in the Thanks Ron Sinclair Midway Class 1 Handicap (1500m).
“Apart from the top-weight, is it quite a level race,” Lever said.
“She’s drawn well, Louise knows her so I expect her to run well.”
Rounding out Lever’s Kembla-bound quartet is Vicuna who comes back 10om from her debut seventh at Hawkesbury on May 23.
“Obviously she will be better over a bit more ground but at this stage, I think that kind of four-year-old Maiden, she is still good enough to run top three,” Lever said.