Insider Racing: Praise for volunteers after Penshurst races

Penshurst Racing Club, which has a long and proud history, continued its tradition hosting a seven-race program after a core group of 12 people volunteered more than 2000 hours during the year to ensure the facilities and surrounds were ready for the annual meeting last Thursday.

Club secretary Brendan Kelly said it was getting tougher to put the show on the road for the racing industry and patrons.

"There's a lot of work goes on behind the scenes by volunteers before the meeting starts and during the day," he said.

"We're lucky we've got a great core group of volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the day goes on without a hitch. The day is all about grassroots racing. The meeting offers families and friends the chance to catch up after Christmas Day."

Kelly said the club had been busy over the past year trying to improve its facilities with a bigger female jockeys' room and kitchen installed in its administration block plus a new water sprinkling system around the course.

"With more female jockeys riding at meetings, we had to make their jockeys' room bigger," he said.

"We only had three male jockeys this year and there were eight female jockeys. The times have changed in the jockeys' ranks compared to say five or 10 years ago.

"We're always looking at ways to maintain and improve our facilities so we remain relevant in the industry."

The club hosts jump-outs and track gallops during the year.

PROMINENT Woolsthorpe owner Colin McKenna sang the praises of trainer Mitch Freedman and apprentice jockey Laura Lafferty after they combined to win a restricted race with Woolsthorpe Reign at Penshurst on Boxing Day.

Woolsthorpe Reign's win was the first leg of a treble for Lafferty. Her other winners were Unrealistic in the Penshurst Cup and Articulator, which took out the last race on the seven event program.

"It's great to see Mitch and Laura going so well," McKenna said.

"It's always a pleasure to watch emerging talent show off their skills. I've been watching Mitch train for more than four years and he's established himself as one of Victoria's top young trainers and Laura has produced some stunning results in a short period of time as a jockey. I couldn't fault her ride on Woolsthorpe Reign.

"I'm confident going forward they will both have successful careers in racing."

Woolsthorpe Reign - bred by McKenna's wife Janice and raced with a group of friends - has won her past two starts, taking her tally to two wins from five starts.

FORMER Warrnambool-based jockey Jason Lyon made a welcome return to Western District racing at Penshurst on Boxing Day.

Lyon has only been back in the saddle for a couple of meetings after breaking his tibia and fibula in the left leg in October 2018.

"It's great to be back riding and seeing so many familiar faces at Penshurst," the 39-year-old hoop said.

"Originally I had plates and screws in my leg and the healing process was very slow, but Dr Zimmerman and his team changed that to a rod and things healed pretty quickly.

"I was worried at one stage that I would never ride again and believe me that was a big worry. I'll be basing myself in Victoria but in my last season of riding I rode 52 winners in Darwin."

Lyon rode his first winner back from injury at Mornington on Sunday, guiding first starter Set Us Free to win a maiden over 2045 metres at $21.

LEARNING to settle was the key behind the win of Warrnambool galloper Tea Train in a restricted race over 1715 metres at Geelong on Boxing Day.

Trainer Symon Wilde said he was confident Tea Train will be better suited to races over more ground.

"We've had problems with Tea Train settling in his races," Wilde said.

"I think the penny is just starting to drop. I think he'll run out a strong 2000 metres. We'll look for suitable types of races over about that distance range in the future."

From 12 starts, Tea Train is the winner of two races. He's been in the minor place-getters' stall on five occasions.

Meanwhile, Wilde was happy with Obi's maiden victory at Penshurst on Boxing Day. Obi having his second race start beat Fortyfivedegrees by a short-half-head to win the 1000-metre race.

"It was a good ride by Josh Cartwright on Obi," he said.

"We'll just take him through his grades. We've got nothing big planned for Obi at this state. The win is a great result for his owner Bruno Cugnotto. It's the first winner that Bruno has had as an owner.

"We're just hopeful that Bruno will own plenty of more winners in our stable in the future."

TERANG'S Jamie Barry registered his first win as a trainer when Beejay's Hero won a restricted race at Penshurst on Boxing Day.

Barry said it was great to get the monkey off his back as a trainer.

"It's a relief to have my first winner," he said. "He's been a consistent horse and we may look at running him in the Peter Blank Sprint at Terang on New Year's Day."

JOCKEY Beau Mertens pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after his ride on Barnsbiry Street at Mornington on Sunday.

Stewards suspended Mertens for 10 meetings. His suspension starts midnight January 1 and ends midnight January 10.