First-up winning ride for Lorna Cook

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 33

First-up winning ride for Lorna Cook

By

W. R. CARSTON

The ranks of female jockeys received another boost at Riccarton on Saturday when Lorna Cook, aged 16, made a successful debut to her raceriding career by guiding Eureka Lad to a decisive victory in The Dallington, a set-weight event for class-four sprinters. Cook, apprenticed to Eureka Lad’s Ashburton trainer, Kevin Miller, who also shares in the ownership of the horse, found no traffic problems for the Palatable four-year-old as she brought him forward from a handy position to make his challenge 150 m out. In no time at all he spurted clear of the pack and was out by a length from the each-way favourite, Dreams Come True, at the line.

Although he had shown some improvement to finish third at Omoto at his previous start it was not surprising that this time, in the hands of a lass having her first raceday ride, Eureka Lad was at lucrative odds. As the fourteenth favourite of 16

he returned his backers $57.80 and $14.20 for a win-and-place and paved the way for a $2145.30 T.A.B. treble.

It was, perhaps, ironical that at Eureka Lad’s previous start his rider had been Danny Frye, who, in Saturday’s race, was one of the jockeys involved in a four-horse fall about 1000 m from home.

It all began when Frye’s mount, Steiger, clipped the heels of a runner ahead and came down. Within seconds Berber, racing on the inner and just behind Steiger, was down too and Half A Carat and Sweet King, following immedi-

ately behind these two, were also brought down. Frye, who was concussed, and Jackie Jamieson, the rider of Sweet King, were both sent to hospital for observation and treatment. Jamieson fractured a small bone in her wrist Les Didham, the rider of Berber, and Warren Stevenson (Half A Carat), both received bruising and a shaking and were stood down from the rest of their riding engagements. An inquiry into the incident was opened then adjourned until the second day of the meeting next Thursday when all parties will be available to give evidence.