Cranbourne jockey Mark Flaherty celebrated a return to form with five winners on Saturday’s eight-race program at Bendigo.By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE jockey Mark Flaherty put on a flawless demonstration of horsemanship at Bendigo on Saturday to win five of the eight races contested on the day.
It was the first time the leading hoop had picked up five winners on a day, having won four races on a program on four previous occasions.
Flaherty booted home Amor Asunto (race two), Rough Night (four), Sugar Daad (five), Reggie (seven) and Gallantree (eight), while also snaring third place on Cannyopra in the sixth event, meaning the only prize pools he did not grab a share of were those offered for the first and third races.
He said later that he thought he had been due for a change of fortune, but to get five winners home was beyond his expectations and a great thrill.
“It’s been a bit quiet lately so it was good to get among the winners,” he said.
“I had a good book of rides and I thought I could kick a few home. You always think you can win but, after the first couple, the confidence rose because I knew I had a good chance in the later races.”
Gallantree’s trainer Steve McKinnon was worried that Flaherty had used up all his luck before the final event and asked him if he had ever ridden five in a day.
“I said ‘no’ and he was shaking his head and saying how it happens so rarely. I just told him not to worry and managed to get his horse home,” he said.
“It was a great thrill.”
Flaherty has experienced the highs and lows of racing more than most over his 16-year career and knows that star horses like Cox Plate contender Regal Roller do not come along often and seldom develop an association with high-weight jockeys like him.
He is biding his time until his next big break but, if he continues to ride in the sort of form he produced at the weekend, that opportunity will likely present itself sooner rather than later.
