Mc Gruddy Hoping For Change Of Luck Carnival Approaches
19 September, 2018
Thoroughbred
Jockey Shaun Mc Gruddy is hopeful the arrival of the spring and summer carnival will bring about bigger books of rides, following his winter holiday.
Mc Gruddy has two winners to his name in the opening two months of the season and said he’s hopeful of putting the slow start to the season behind him.
“I had a six week holiday during the winter, which was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
“It’s been hard to get the quality of rides, I’ve been getting three or four rides a meeting, but the quality hasn’t quite been there.”
Mc Gruddy got a taste of what could lay in wait for him over the Ascot carnival on Monday, where he rode WA Sires Produce Stakes winner Lordhelpmerun won a 1000m trial.
Lordhelpmerun defeated seasoned horses Salorsci, Disposition and Properantes with and a big decision already looms in the early part of the spring for Mc Gruddy; whether he rides the Sires winner or another impressive two-year-old winner from last season Black Sabbath.
“The trial was good,” Mc Gruddy said of Lordhelpmerun’s performance.
“Against the older horses, he didn’t beat any champions, but I liked the way he hit the line.
“It’s going to be a strong year for the three-year-olds.”
Mc Gruddy will ride Black Sabbath in the $100,000 3YO Classic (1000m) at Bunbury on October 13, while it’s not yet clear whether Lordhelpmerun will line up in that race.
Mc Gruddy said he would likely have to make a decision on which boom three-year-old he rides on the path to the WA Guineas following the Bunbury meeting.
“I will have to see how the Harvey’s horse (Black Sabbath) goes in the Bunbury race,” he said.
“He’s quite a brilliant horse, so I’m not sure how we would fare over the mile, being by Blackfriars though, he’s bred to run it out.
“Steve Wolfe’s horse (Lordhelpmerun) does look like he wants the 1400m to mile range.”
The tide could slowly start to turn as soon as this weekend for Mc Gruddy, who has picked up the ride on Broome Sprint winner Salamaat in the 60th Wedding Anniversary Rob & Valerie Dick Handicap (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.
He has also regained the ride on Albany Cup winner Push To Pass in Sunday’s Listed Boulder Cup (2100m) at Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
“Wolfey got me the ride on Salamaat from Tom Pike,” Mc Gruddy said.
“He’s drawn well and if he can bring his dirt form to the grass, he can be competitive.
“Push To Pass is also going well without winning.
“He might be at his right mark on Sunday.”
Saturday’s Belmont meeting gets underway at 1.18pm, while the Boulder Cup gets underway at 4.15pm on Sunday.
Tim Walker