Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Jockey Andrew Gibbons will be out to strike early at Quirindi on Tuesday when he partners three chances in the first four races.
Gibbons had one ride at Wyong on Sunday and finished second on the Angela Davies-prepared Expido. He will again link with the trainer when riding Magatama in the Willow Tree Cup Day 22nd August Maiden Plate (1100m) at Quirindi.
“She’s a mare that I rode at her first start at Port Macquarie back in February, and she was only fair in that,” Gibbons said. “She had another run after that and ran fourth at Taree and then had a break.
“She’s come back, and she won a trial at Gosford when I rode her and the improvement on her has been great. She seems to have come back really well, and I’m looking forward to riding her.”
Gibbons has two other rides at Quirindi, both for Tamworth trainer David Hatch. He will ride Luke Skywalker in the Tab.com.au Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1450m), while stablemate Immortal Rose awaits in the Become A QJC Member Today Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m).
Luke Skywalker has only had four starts for Hatch after being trained by Tony Gollan.
“I ran third on Luke Skywalker at his first start for David [Hatch] at Muswellbrook, and he comes into Tuesday’s race on the back of another placing,” Gibbons said. “He was down the track in between those placings, but he’s shown enough talent in his recent runs to be hard to hold out in Tuesday’s race.”
Immortal Rose has had three starts for Hatch and was a last-start winner at Quirindi after missing a place at Scone and Tamworth.
“She raced on the speed at her latest start and won well at Quirindi,” Gibbons said. “She’s also only had a few starts for David after previously being with another stable. She’s only had the 10 starts in total, so still has upside and another forward showing is on the cards. A repeat of her maiden win would have her hard to hold out again.”
