Yuill climbs up jockey standings with treble

In-form hoop Kyra Yuill continued her strong season in the Great Southern, notching a winning treble at Albany on Thursday.

The 29-year-old was crowned WA’s champion apprentice in 2010-2011 and became the first female rider to win the Perth Cup in 2011.

Yuill is a regular visitor to the Great Southern and has relished the opportunity to ride for WA’s leading trainer Adam Durrant at the past two meetings, where she has ridden five winners, four of which were in Durrant’s colours.

The accomplished jockey won three of the first four races, including a race-to-race double for Durrant at Percy Spencer Racecourse, and she has nine victories to her name in the Great Southern this season to sit equal-third on the jockeys’ premiership.

Promising gelding Bootleg Rascal produced a sharp turn of foot in the Motel Le Grande Handicap (1500m) to grab Steve Wolfe-trained stablemates Triggerfish and Deangles in the closing stages and win by half a length for Yuill.

Classy type Miracle Man made it a race-to-race double for Yuill and Durrant after settling midfield in running before sprinting strongly down the centre of the track to claim the Great Southern Supplies Handicap (1500m) by more than a length.

A Listed winner in 2018, Miracle Man jumped a $4.10 equal favourite on the tote and the slashing victory was the second time the five won second-up in a career that has now yielded five wins from 28 starts.

Take Me Home Honey kick-started a superb day for Yuill in the saddle after breaking through for a well-deserved win in Eddie’s Pest & Weed Control Albany Maiden (1600m) for local trainer Paul Hunter.

The four-year-old mare had run three straight second placings before breaking maiden status at start 16, prevailing a short odds after outlasting Who’s A Pretty Girl in the straight.

Consistent Darren McAuliffe-prepared filly Moama Rose broke through in the vale Allen McNamara Snr Maiden (1232m) after a terrific ride by Jordan Turner.

Consistent eight-year-old Mr Pago scored a well-deserved win in the GWN Handicap (1925m) in impressive style after carrying 61kg for Brodie Kirby and Steve Wolfe.

Deel Red scored a tough win over 1925m in race six, leading all the way for Albany rider Natasha Faithfull as they held off the fast-finishing War Ksar.

Kirby (20 wins) is the clear leader of the Great Southern jockeys’ premiership and Faithfull sits in second place on 14.