Rachael Blackmore rides out her claim on Sweet Home Chicago© Photo Healy Racing
Champion conditional rider Rachael Blackmore notched up another hugely significant career landmark when riding out her claim aboard Sweet Home Chicago in the Oulart Maiden Hurdle at Wexford.
The Co. Tipperary native was the first female to take the claiming riders’ title with 32 wins last season, and gave Sweet Home Chicago a typically polished ride in this three-mile maiden to bring her career tally to 60.
The Colin Bowe-trained gelding, available at 7/1 earlier in the day and further supported on track from 5/1 into 4/1, soon settled the issue after taking it up on the home bend before two out.
The lightly-raced eight-year-old stayed on strongly to beat Chestnut Brave by 16 lengths, with Ballinahow Bill another three and three quarter lengths away in third.
Blackmore said, "It's a major milestone and I'm delighted to achieve it. I had my first winner in February of 2011 on Stowaway Pearl. I'd like to thank the Shark, my agent Gary Cribbin and all the trainers who have supported me.”
Shark Hanlon said, "It's great to see Rachael ride out her claim. She is a very good rider and she does everything right.
"I gave her her first ride ever on the track and point-to-pointing. She is after coming a long way, she is hard worker and deserves all the luck she gets.
"I had no jockey for a race in Thurles one day and Davy Russell recommended her to me, and since that day she has been with me."
Bowe said of the gelding, "He has a bit of experience and he could go for a winners of one or a handicap. He ran a cracker at Tipperary, and the last day he got caught in a bit of traffic coming down the hill at Clonmel. We were hoping for a good run today."
(DM & AM)
