Racing: International riders make their mark in early races

It's taken a year, but it looks like Mi Jubilee is back.

The darling of last year's juvenile set put a series of sub-standard performances behind her with a back-to-the-headlines victory under international rider Michael Rodd at Ellerslie yesterday.

Put it down to the dead track rating, says trainer Stephen Crutchley.

Which is a slightly confusing statement because Mi Jubilee does not like rain-affected footing.

"She's had a really bad near-side front foot and the easing of the ground made it more comfortable for her," said Crutchley.

The foot problem - there is no base at the back of the hoof - has been worrying Mi Jubilee since her unsuccessful Sydney campaign last autumn.

"She's been limping down to the start since last autumn.

"The full bar shoe she wears keeps her off the back of her foot and she hit out better today than she has in a long time."

Queensland-based former Hong Kong rider Rodd was impressed.

"She won easily. She picked them up as she liked. She didn't really appreciate the footing, but she managed."

Unlike some, Crutchley has never lost faith in the filly that was rated as freakish last season. He was the least surprised by yesterday's win.

"When it comes down to a sprint, if all runners have spent the same amount of petrol during the race, she'll sprint home better than any of them."

Mi Jubilee is engaged in the $30,000 3-year-old race at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Owner Gordon Lambert, missing from Ellerslie yesterday, is keen to run again, but Crutchley is not convinced.

"I won't know until I've talked it through with Gordon, but I'm wondering if it might be better to miss that one."

Mi Jubilee did not have a hard race to win yesterday and should back up satisfactorily.

"I'm going to try and get a situation where I can just walk her in the water at the beach.

"That's all she needs."

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Mi Jubilee's win was Rodd's first ride at Ellerslie yesterday and fellow Australian Glen Boss - in his first ever appearance at Ellerslie - matched the effort with his win on Korau Road.

Boss produced a well-judged effort in front on Korau Road, nursing the gelding well from the home bend.

The only problem he struck was when Korau Road put his foot in a hole 170m from the finish.

"He struck the hole, slipped on his next stride and the saddle shot up and hit me in the backside," said Boss.

Boss lost his balance in the saddle, but only for one stride and was composed well in time to produce a victory salute to the crowd as Korau Road hit the finish.

Korau Road had previously recorded only one minor placing from eight starts at Ellerslie, but co-trainer Stephen McKee sad the stats are misleading.

"A couple of times he's put in what you'd describe as winning performances."

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Shearer Kerryn McCarthy pulled back a consolation victory for Gee I Jane's luckless second at Ellerslie on Saturday when The Silence Sir scored yesterday.

It had been a win waiting to happen.

At his previous start The Silence Sir had run into probably the best maiden in the country in Sphenophyta and the time before had been desperately unlucky not to win on Wellington Cup day at Trentham.

The Silence Sir finished off yesterday's race like a horse heading places.

"I'd like to take him to Queensland with Gee I Jane," said trainer Neville Couchman.

Winning rider Grant Cooksley agreed with that thought.

"He'll make a nice stayer and there'll be plenty of good 2000-2200m races for him at the carnival."

Hong Kong-based Frenchman Olivier Dolueze nearly made it three from three for the trio of international jockeys when he shot No Limits clear early in the home straight.

But The Silence Sir had too much strength late in the race.

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First-year Cambridge apprentice Corey Parish showed he was not overawed by the presence of international jockeys when he kicked Bling Bling home at long odds to end a long run of outs. Bling Bling led and kicked far too well to land the long odds for owner Gerard Peterson and his brother Brad, who trains the mare.