Lacey Cracks Season Century with Guineas Day Treble

Nothing was going to stop the indomitable Lacey Morrison from breaking through the 100 win barrier for the season at Cluden Park on Sunday.

The 40 year-old mum was at her consummate best with a second winning treble at Cluden in a week, and on the way the Magic Million Townsville Guineas aboard local hope Beau Rain.

Morrison’s red hot form lifted her to 101 wins on the final day of the season, and a third straight Townsville jockeys’ premiership (39 wins).

“I’ve been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks. Obviously the end of the season rolls around and you look at your win count,” Morrison said.

“I was thinking oh wow if I could get 100 that would be a real milestone and I achieved it today so I’m really rapt.

“It’s been a massive year. It’s a big achievement for me because all my winners were in the Far North where we only race one or two days a week and don’t race so much over the wet season so I’m really happy.

“I still get a kick out of it, 100 per cent. It’s not just the winners but the input I have with horses I ride like Speed Legend who was so tough today. I’ve had a lot to do with him and he’s such a good horse.”

A fan favourite with punters, Morrison has become the go to jockey for many trainers with her astonishing winning strike rate of (24%) - almost one in four mounts.

Morrison’s big day included a narrow win on Speed Legend in the Ladbroke It Hcp (1609m), and wins on Cosmic Atom in the Explorer Property Munro & Co 2/3YOP Mdn (1000m) and Beau Rain in the Guineas, both for Townsville trainer Bill Kenning.

But it was no easy feat for Beau Rain from start to finish.

The Sidestep gelding endured a wide trip and a rough finish to beat Sailor’s Rum and Parade Ground before surviving a protest when Ryan Wiggins, rider of third placegetter, lodged an objection against the winner and runner-up.

Stewards dismissed both protests after finding Sailor’s Rum had veered out causing interference to Parade Ground and then Beau Rain, but too close to the finish line to affect the result.

Morrison paid tribute to the toughness of Beau Rain whose career was almost ended following a fall in Mackay last year.

“You can’t take anything away from him. Three wide the trip from barrier 12 and he still wins,” she said.

“Since he had the fall in Mackay he’s been field shy, so probably not the worse position to be in (three wide). If I had been shut away on the fence it might have been a different story.

“During the run I thought this horse can’t win. I was trapped three wide from a bad barrier but I did have cover. 

“Then coming to the turn, I thought this horse won’t give a kick but he did, he gave a big kick and just kept finding.

“I haven’t had a lot of luck in protests lately so I was very worried, but I knew my horse had kept a straight line and hadn’t shifted his ground.”

For winning trainer Bill Kenning and owner Adelle Kiernan, the Guineas victory was a personal triumph after nursing Beau Rain back into form.

“To fight on like that is huge. Lacey rode him an absolute treat. When she knew she was going to be three deep she just saved him and saved him and kept him coming at the end,” Kenning said.

“I don’t normally get emotional but I was with that win - what the horse has been through. He nearly died. He was in a box for five weeks, the vet said he might come back to racing so it’s been a dream to get him back.”

Champion trainer Roy Chillemi will freshen his in-form galloper Speed Legend for the Cairns Newmarket after another thrilling Cluden win.

The rising eight-year-old took his Townsville record to five wins from six starts after out-bobbing Armour Force to win by a half head.

In other carnival news Rockhampton trainer Rocky Vale confirmed Namazu would return to Cluden this week to attempt to emulate the great Party King and record a third straight Townsville Cup win.

Pictured: Beau Rain (inside) fights hard to beat the wayward Sailor's Rum at Cluden Park last weekend to win the Magic Millions Townsville Guineas.

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