Kirby bid to chase down Tan in apprentice race

Boom apprentice Brodie Kirby returns to Percy Spencer Racecourse as he tries to reel rival Randy Tan in the Great Southern Apprentice Premiership standings with just three meetings to run.

Kirby was sidelined for almost two months after a nasty fall in Geraldton broke his collarbone but has returned to the saddle recently and has already chalked up two victories as he continues his emergence in the State’s riding ranks.

Tan is leading the apprentice premiership with seven wins and Kirby trails him with five as they enter the final three Great Southern meetings.

With a strong book of seven rides in Albany this afternoon for their Anzac race day, Kirby was itching to ride more winners.

“Everything is back to normal,” Kirby said.

“If anything, it’s only been my race fitness but that is back to where it was.

“I’ve just got to get the ball rolling again and hopefully get back to town. I wasn’t limited with the injury, I could do quite a lot.”

The 22-year-old labelled visiting galloper Danehill Matilda and the talented sprinter Queen Tori as his best couple of chances this afternoon.

“They all have their chances,” he said.

“Danehill Matilda it will be interesting to see how he goes.

“He loves Geraldton and Albany is a similar track so I think it will run a cheeky race.

“I feel like I know Queen Tori really well and you’ve just got to get her out of the gates because she is a different horse on the speed and I think I can do that.”

Lancelin trainer Ashley Maley, who recently won the Albany Cup, will travel down with a team of horses including Danehill Matilda, who will contest the Lester Cotton Memorial Handicap (1240m).

The five-year-old galloper has won two of his past four starts and is drawn ideally for Kirby in gate two.

Last-start winners Secret Minx and Spin Da Wheels are among the strong line-up in the field of eight.

Kirby has ridden Queen Tori in two of her career victories and will again partner the six-year-old in the Alan Carpenter Memorial Handicap (1100m) for Albany trainer Des Attwell.

The Oratorio mare will carry 55kg with Kirby’s claim from barrier six but has never won over 1100m.

Kirby will also ride Psionics and Jenabel for Maley and later on will be aboard last-start winner Costa Oeste.

He then links up with leading local trainer Steve Wolfe in the Wayne “Hairy” McGlade Memorial Handicap (1600m) with rising gelding Mass Effect.

The eight-race Anzac card starts at 12.37pm today.

CAMERON NEWBOLD’S ALBANY SELECTIONS

Race 1: Red Moon

Race 2: Messiah

Race 3: Diraja Jewel

Race 4: Danehill Matilda

Race 5: Queen Tori

Race 6: Summer’s Skye

Race 7: War Ksar

Race 8: Mass Effect

Best Bet: Red Moon

Value: Danehill Matilda