Kerang’s Jye McNeil has found plenty to celebrate this festive season.
He has had winners interstate, winners in town and winners on country tracks.
And he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
The highlight was his January 5 trip to the Apple Isle where he and trainer Patrick Payne combined with Wings of Song, to run away with the $125,000 Tasmanian Guineas over 1600m.
This listed mile classic is one of Tasmania’s signature events – as well as a drawcard for the Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival – and McNeil put on a riding masterclass as he finished with clear air between him and the also rans on the day.
Payne said his Victorian filly was likely to be set for the $125,000 Strutt Stakes and $150,000 Tasmanian Oaks, both over 2100m, later in the Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival after her impressive win.
It was a genuine hit-and-run raid by McNeil, with the 2020 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey having just the one ride – his first on the three-year-old, which now has three wins and three placings from eight starts, with more than $120,000 in prizemoney.
The best-backed in the Guineas, firming from $4.80 into $2.90 favourite, Wings Of Song, has been stabled with Adam Trinder at Latrobe since arriving in the state. Trinder and Payne, both former jumps jockeys, are long-time friends.
At Geelong on Saturday, the day after his Tasmanian trip, McNeil was straight back in the winner’s circle, taking out the $100,000 Valley Inn Handicap (1100m) with a storming finish on Rey Magnerio – the four-year-old gelding which just keeps on winning.
The Griffiths/De Kock horse now has five wins and a third from seven starts and is looking stronger at every start.
“Obviously he is going so well, but he has also been very well placed and had his races targeted, and again today you see the Grifftih/De Kock stable had him in such great shape, which they do with all their horses,” McNeil said after the win on Saturday.
“He’s very sharp, and in his last prep seemed very explosive, albeit in a lower grade, from further back and now, for some reason, he’s just beginning well and putting himself in the race a bit more in the early stages, and that’s key to not leaving as much work to do.”
In the days leading up to his Tassie trip, McNeil was also at Yarra Valley on the Thursday, steering home Surprise Valley for the Waterhouse/Bott stable, while on the Monday he was at Flemington’s New Year’s Day annual fixture where he was also teamed with Griffiths/De Kock and race favourite Magnupur for a win to kickstart his busy week.
