Sport
10 March, 2025
Apprentice jockey collects first career winner on Gilgandra-trained gelding at Warren
Western Racing Report - Warren Golden Fleece
With a ride worthy of a senior jockey, apprentice Tilly McCarroll experienced the thrill of her career first winner, Order Of Merit, on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Warren’s Golden Fleece meeting.
Last early, the Kieren Hazelton, Gilgandra-trained Order Of Merit steadily made ground however, was still midfield in the straight.
Wearing the green and white Bowman Racing colours, Tilly McCarroll drove Order Of Merit through a narrow opening on the rails to burst clear and win by two lengths from the leader Wota-statement (Zoe Hunt, $5.50) and River Rogue (Leeshelle Small, $11) in the 1600 metres All A Glow Electrical Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Clint Lundholm, who trained the runner-up Wotastatement, landed a winning double with Pyromania and Beechuno at the meeting which attracted a good crowd despite the hot day.
Pyromania (Jake Pracey Holmes, $7.50) returned to form when leading throughout to beat Scorpius (Dylan Stanley, $5.50) and Sauce Dragon (Wendy Peel, $7.50) by over two lengths in the 1200 metres Macquarie Valley Rock And Sand Benchmark 58 Handicap. In a handy spot behind the leaders, Beechuno (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $10) with a late surge won the 1200 metres Warren IGA and Liquor Class One Handicap by a long neck from the leader Island Rock (Wendy Peel, $5.50) with Calmundi (Michael Heagney,$11) a nose away third.
The other leg of a treble for Jake Pracey-Holmes, who won the $500 jockey challenge at Warren, was Outta De Lady in the 1000 metres Warren Services Club Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Leading most of the way, the Zach Hatch, Tamworth-trained Outta De Lady ($8.50) held on for a half-length win over Press Forward (Tilly McCarroll, $2.70 favourite) and Desirous (Ken Dunbar, $8.50). Before he retired, Gilgandra trainer Leo Harland won numerous races with the good sprinter Patrick May which is now trained by his daughter Gaye-Lee Burgess.
Now the winner of eight races and placed eight times from 48 starts, Patrick May (Ashleigh Stanley, $3.20 to $2.90 favourite) was straight to the lead in the 1400 metres Egelabra Benchmark 58 Handicap and won by more than two lengths from Whataboutscotty (Michael Heagney, $7.50) and Beauty Edge (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.20).
The other winners were the Darren Hyde, Dubbo-trained The Legal Factor (Andrew Banks, $9) and Ultra Deep (Zoe Hunt, $10) trained at Mudgee by David Smith.
