There will be no resting on laurels at Goulburn on Friday for recently minted premiership winners Danny Williams (Trainer of The Year), Jay Ford (Jockey of The Year) and Jean Van Overmeire (Apprentice of The Year).
The tablelands race club recently announced its premiership winners for the 2016/17 racing season and each recipient is back in action at Friday’s meeting as the new racing season gets underway.
Williams secured the training premiership, whilst Jay Ford and Jean Van Overmeire’s regular trips to the tablelands track paid dividends for both, taking out Jockey Of The Year and Apprentice Of The Year respectively.
The Williams stable capped off a strong season on its home patch, leading in 10 winners and could easily have had more blue ribbon results with 15 minor placings also secured.
The stable unearthed some fresh talent amongst its premiership winning results, with Acquittal, Lady Eleanor and She Knows all impressing in their debut campaigns. Williams could start his title defence in winning style on Friday. He has three horses accepted with lightly raced mare Snowbrook a strong hope. The daughter of Hinchinbrook kicked off her campaign with a closely fought runner up result on her home track two weeks ago and has performed solidly in two second up efforts previously.
Jay Ford pipped Jeff Penza on a countback for the Goulburn jockey’s title courtesy of nine wins and nine runner-up results last season. Ford will look to get an early season edge on his rivals this Friday with confirmed rides in seven of the eight races. This includes a handy combination with the Matthew Dale stable in race two aboard Mossman Gorge. The Mossman three-year-old had a productive debut campaign, notching a win and two placings at Canberra from four starts before spelling.
Apprentice Jean Van Overmeire heads back to a happy hunting ground at Goulburn where his seven wins and another nine minor placings were enough to give him the apprentices’ title ahead of Rachel Hunt. Van Overmeire can also make an early statement in the new season premiership with three confirmed rides on the card. These include last start place getters Manhattan Drive and Valorhesse along with the Bjorn Baker trained Ambitious Prince.
Local gelding Common Purpose secured the Horse Of The Year title, with his consistency netting connections and trainer John Bateman a win and four runner up cheques for the season.
Goulburn District Race Club’s eight race card on Friday kicks off at 11.55am and the track is currently rated a Soft 6. Further track updates are available on twitter, just follow @goulburnraces . For full fields, form and race replays visit racingnsw.com.au
