TAMWORTH apprentice jockey Heather McKean has her first registered race ride aboard grey galloper Fred’s Boys in Friday’s 1000m Open Handicap at Gunnedah.
The 24-year-old apprentice, originally from Melbourne, earned her ticket recently and completed preparations for her debut with rides at yesterday’s Tamworth Jockey Club barrier trials.
“I can’t wait,” McKean said yesterday.
She has ridden the gelding in work for her master, Tamworth trainer Mark Mason.
“He’s strong but a good, quiet old horse. It would be fantastic to win on him.”
Mason said Fred’s Boys would be a good debut for his hard-working stable
apprentice.
“Her first ride, she’ll be pumped,” Mason said yesterday.
“She’s going good and has ridden him in work.”
Today’s barrier draw will be crucial for the grey eight-year-old, who has won 10 of his 38 starts.
Yesterday he received 54kg in a race where the Ross Stitt-trained Blinkin Quick and Sue Grills’s Little Shrek were allotted 59.5kg topweights.
GUNNEDAH WEIGHTS
Blinkin Quick (Ross Stitt) 59.5, Little Shrek (Sue Grills) 59.5, Cashout (Michael Mulholland) 59, Port And Brandy (Peter Cleal) 55.5, Qualo (Owen Gardner) 55.5, That’s Gold (Max Crockett) 55. All 54: Fred’s Boys (Mark Mason), Loup Rouge (Lesley Jeffriess), Nobragnow (Garry McCarney), Offshore Account (Bill Farrow), Tender Kisses (Narelle Pullman), Peejaycee (Peter Cleal).