Peter Hibberd, The Buloke Times

After a very successful racing centre last Saturday, the Donald and District Race Club hosted a series of 15 jump outs.

This type of event is for horses that are returning from a spell or close to racing.

Over 100 horses were on the course, with the leading country stables in attendance.

Ciaron Maher, Andrew Bobbin, Paul Pruesker, and Austy Coffey had the majority of the horses. But it was trainer Shane Fliedner’s horse which took a lot of the on-course attendees’ atttention – a 2-year-old unnamed having its first trial or jump out. Prices of horses can cost various amounts in dollars; this one cost only $12,000 and some shares are still available.

Another 2-year-old who impressed was Savvy Thinker, part-owned by a local who was well-known for a football connection.

I know jump outs are different to races, but some horses did show that they are capable of winning in the future.

Colsridge, ridden by Harry Coffey, was very good in quick time. The stablemate Hay Cliffy could be well-placed in a lower grade race. Definitely the two horses which showed the most were Commissions, trained by Dane Smith, which is yet to race, and Layin Up, trained by Ciaron Maher, which is also unraced.

Top jockey Harry Coffey did have an injury gained throughout the day, but he said in response: “I’ll be okay, as I have some very good rides tomorrow.”

Trainers travel long distances for these jump outs. One of those was Quinton Scott, who trains at Crossley near Port Fairy. He had two horses at Donald, and, including travel time and being on the course, this amounted to nearly a 12-hour turnaround!

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 17 May 2024.