A jockey who feared injury would end his career and a horse which was given away combined for an upset win in the Listed $100,000 Goldmarket at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Jockey Jason Taylor, who only picked up the ride 90 minutes before start time, led all the way on Trombone Alley ($15) to beat Gundy Son ($21) by a half length with a long neck to Morning Captain ($4.60) in third.
Jockey Larry Cassidy was to ride Trombone Alley but couldn’t make the weight of 54kg because he was distressed from the heat.
Taylor resumed riding in November after suffering a shoulder injury during a race which put him out of action for six months.
At one stage Taylor thought his 25 years career might be over but he recovered and showed he had lost none of skills when he scored on Lucky Hussler in last month’s the George Moore Stakes (1200m).
“I think everyone else decided leaders couldn’t win and let me get away a bit,” he said of Trombone Alley’s free-wheeling victory.
Taylor said the win in the Gold Coast’s oldest feature gave him a special buzz.
“Everyone wants to win a feature race on their home track and I have been based at the Gold Coast for a long time,” Taylor said.
Trainer Alicia Willick picked up Trombone Alley for nothing when she approached owner Gary Pemberton to see if he had any horses.
He gave her Trombone Alley who had been retired seven months earlier from the Pat Duff stable after losing all form.
Willick put together a syndicate and sent Trombone Alley into work.
The gelding has now won four races and nearly $100,000 for Willick since October.
“He just seems to have thrived on the Gold Coast, ” Willick said.
Jockey Ryan Wiggins said Gundy Son would have won in another 50m.
The best-backed runner was Gai Waterhouse’s King Cobia who shortened from $4.20 into $3.60 favourite but finished down the track.