Nine Sydney jockeys stood down from riding after well-known figure shows flu-like symptoms

Mathew ToogoodThe West Australian
Camera IconAll of the jockeys were involved in Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill. Credit: Matt King/Getty Images

Nine Sydney jockeys have been prevented from riding at Tuesday’s Gosford meeting after a well-known Sydney hoop who competed at Rosehill on Saturday began to show flu-like symptoms.

While the prominent rider is awaiting test results for COVID-19, Racing NSW stewards announced Andrew Adkins, Brenton Avdulla, Tim Clark, Sam Clipperton, Jason Collett, Robbie Dolan, Adam Hyeronimus, James Innes Jr and Rachel King were not permitted to ride at Gosford.

All of the jockeys were involved in Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill.

“A jockey who rode at Rosehill on Saturday is now showing flu-like symptoms and as a matter of caution we’ve asked all jockeys who rode at Rosehill on Saturday not to ride at Gosford today until the results of that jockey’s tests are known,” Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.

“Once we get those results we’ll be able to release a detailed plan as to how we go forward depending on the results.”

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Van Gestel said they were hopeful of getting the result of the jockey’s COVID-19 test back by Tuesday afternoon.

LOCAL RACING

Meanwhile, slow and steady will be how Cup Night takes his comeback after illness interrupted the rising sprinter’s last campaign.

The four-year-old gelding trialled well yesterday for trainer Bernie Miller, placing second over 950m at Lark Hill in his first run since finishing second in February’s $120,000 Pinjarra Classic (1300m).

Cup Night, which won the $100,000 Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) at Ascot earlier this year, has been recovering from what Miller believes was a virus since his run in Pinjarra, with the gelding having irregular blood work leading into the race and cost him a run in the $120,000 Bunbury Stakes (1400m)

Miller though was pleased with his run yesterday and Cup Night will have another trial in the next fortnight, with a good result seeing him likely to be nominated for the HG Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont on July 25.

CUP NIGHT’S RETURN: FULL STORY

“He wasn’t sent out there to break any records or nothing, it’s just his first trial after a few illness problems,” he said.

“We just wanted him to go around and get his feel of it again, put his toe in the water.

“He’s built up a bit better, he’s a bit stronger.

“What he went through the virus or whatever it was, it really knocked him for six so it’s been a long process, but I think we’ve got on top of it now so we’ll just go steady, give him another trial and look for a race for him.

“Whatever it was that he had before that run, it blew him apart really.”

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