With several race meetings remaining until the end of the month, apprentice jockey Shayleigh Ingelse has already ridden seven winners from 13 rides since the start of November, including a treble on Sunday at Wellington. Dubbo trainer Michael Mulholland, to whom Ingelse is apprenticed, has supplied six of those winners: Interventionist, Play The Record, Jet Empress, Epic Poem (twice), and Wandering Jack. The other winner, Bylong, is trained by Brett Robb.
Since her first ride in 2021, when apprenticed in Newcastle, Shayleigh Ingelse has recorded 73 winners. Her treble at Wellington featured outstanding exhibitions on Bylong, Epic Poem, and Wandering Jack.
Bred and raced by Dr Bob Slacksmith and Mrs Slacksmith, Bylong made an auspicious debut when winning the 900 metres KFC Wellington Maiden Handicap. Dashing past the leaders in the straight, Bylong ($6.50 to $3.70) staved off stablemate Charlie Magic (Georgina McDonnell, $1.65 to $3.30 favourite) to score by a head, with a length to third-placed Erion (Shannen Llewellyn, $11 to $9.50).
Last-start Dubbo winner Epic Poem was again well-handled by Shayleigh Ingelse when solidly supported from $4.60 to $3.40. Working home from midfield, she defeated Ms Reeves (Zoe Hunt, $5.50) by a short head, with Chesteray (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.60 fav.) finishing third in the 1400 metres Elders Insurance Class Three Handicap.
Making it two wins and two placings from five starts, the five-year-old gelding Wandering Jack (Shayleigh Ingelse, $4.20) was given a cosy run behind the leader Grins (Shannen Llewellyn, $3.80) and finished best to win by a long neck, with over a length to The Mooch (Mathew Cahill, $5.50 to $3.60 fav.) in the 1100 metres J R Richard’s and Sons Class One Handicap.
Placed seven times but without a win after 11 starts, the Mark Howard, Wyong-trained Carbrook broke through to win the 1100 metres Grand Hotel and Bottle Shop Maiden Plate. Parked on the fence by Jenny Duggan, Carbrook ($2.25 fav.) was pushed through a gap between the leading pair and then held off the strong-finishing Polens (Ashleigh Stanley, $51) and Wotastatement (Winona Costin, $11).
The consistent Rich Street (Andrew Banks, $5.50) from the Michael Lunn stable at Dubbo was a deserved winner of the 1400 metres Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Country Boosted Maiden Plate. Charging past the leading pack, Rich Street raced clear of Kuroshinzo (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.40 fav.) and Goodbye Stranger (Mathew Cahill, $17).
Apprentice jockey Jessica Brookes has impressed since joining the Gayna Williams stable at Bathurst. It was a good ride on the Williams-trained Gutsy ($5) to take an inside run and score a close win over Sparks (Shannen Llewellyn, $12) and Dehero (Ella Drew, $2.45 fav.) in the 1000 metres Federal Hotel Benchmark 66 Handicap.
