Kirby draws level in apprentice race with treble

A treble to rapidly rising apprentice Brodie Kirby at Percy Spencer Racecourse last week has drawn him level with Randy Tan in the Great Southern Apprentice Premiership with two meetings left.

After recently returning from a broken collarbone Kirby shot back onto the Great Southern scene with an impressive day that yielding three winners, including another triumph aboard sprinter Queen Tori.

The treble lifted Kirby to eight victories and he is joined by Tan who also tasted success last Thursday in Albany aboard Aground.

One of the most promising apprentice riders in the country, Kirby was reunited with Queen Tori in the Graham Carpenter Memorial Handicap (1100m) as the pair jumped well to sit midfield before Kirby shot him through an opening in the straight to edge out Uptown Funk by a long head at the line.

It was the third time Kirby has ridden the Des Attwell-trained galloper to victory from four rides in total.

“He is such a good apprentice,” Attwell said.

“He really clicks with the horses and they run for him.

“The horse has had a few niggles and I’ve struggled to keep him at top fitness but he was back to that today.”

Kirby was also successful on Sunsete Pete which led all the way over 1240m to score his second win since joining the Paul Hunter stable.

His treble was rounded out aboard emerging four-year-old Mass Effect in the Wayne “Hairy” McGlade Memorial Handicap (1600m) who rocketed home from last to defeat Lord Kronos by half a length.

Tan gave Albany trainer Kevin Brown a reason to smile when Aground broke a 1450-day winning drought to take out the Dennis Cole Memorial Handicap (1940m) by a length.

Wolfe finished the day with a winning double after short price favourite Red Moon won the opener in strong fashion with hoop Shaun McGruddy in the saddle.

In the Great Southern Trainers’ Premiership Wolfe has extended his lead with 27 victories to his name, putting him well ahead of Hunter (11 wins) and Roy Rogers (10).

Meanwhile veteran sprinter Spin Da Wheels continued his sensational return from a spell, lumping 60.5kg with rider Mitchell Pateman aboard to charge clear late and win the Lester Cotton Memorial Handicap (1240m) and make it two wins from two starts in Albany this campaign.