Racing: Second victory feels great

SYDNEY - Matamata jockey Michael Coleman liked the feel of only his second win on Australian turf, even if it wasn't aboard the AJC Derby favourite Xcellent.
Coleman was only eighth on Xcellent in the A$2 million ($2.17 million) Derby at Randwick, but two races later won the listed A$100,000 Carbine Stakes on the Cambridge-trained Magnetism.

While Xcellent couldn't handle the heavy conditions, Magnetism revelled in them.

"It was a big buzz riding a winner on derby day," Coleman told NZPA yesterday. "It's a career thrill."

Long one of New Zealand's most accomplished jockeys, Coleman, 35, shied away from Australian racing for some years after being found guilty of causing a race fall in South Australia 10 years ago.

He rode Glowing Heights in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in Adelaide and stewards found him guilty of causing Aragen, ridden by Alf Matthews, to clip the heels of Glowing Heights and fall.

Aragen died from injuries sustained in the fall and her connections and Matthews sought compensation from Coleman.

The issue was settled out of court with an Adelaide insurance company agreeing to cover the liability, but that was some years after the accident, during which time Coleman chose not to travel to Australia.

"It took me about five years to come back. I did shy away, I knew for a couple of years that if I came over the lawyers would be after me."

He returned in 2000 for a jockeys' challenge in Victoria and won a 1600m race on Kensign. He rode Second Coming to third place in the 2000 Melbourne Cup won by stablemate, Brew, but Saturday was his first win since Kensign.

Magnetism raced mid-field Trainer Ralph Manning agreed the big Marju gelding had a bright future.

- NZPA