1 week Ago By Josh Callinan
ANDREW Gibbons was always staying in Newcastle on Saturday, but he didn't expect to be riding in the $1 million feature. Login or signup to continue reading A late call-up changed all that and Gibbons, on board $151-outsider Diamond Diesel, will now be the sole local jockey in The Newcastle Herald Hunter (1300 metres). The group 2 race marks one of four home bookings for the experienced campaigner, whose son and fellow hoop Dylan finds himself sidelined with a shoulder injury.
"It wasn't one I was expecting," Gibbons told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. "I was actually always staying in Newcastle to ride Dream Hour for [trainer] Kris [Lees] and another horse in the Highway for Wayne Wilkes. "This one came about late yesterday so I was happy to get it.
" Gibbons was fourth with Tactical Advantage in his only previous Hunter appearance in 2020 and hopes to improve upon that position in the sixth edition. "It's been a really good initiative of Racing NSW to get this race here," he said. "I never thought I'd see a million dollar race on my home track so to be part of it is unreal, but to win it would be super special.
" Gibbons admits he was surprised with the early market value of eight-year-old gelding Diamond Diesel, priced at $151 on TAB fixed odds midway through Thursday. "Definitely crazy odds," he said. "He shouldn't be that price.
Obviously horses there with better credentials than him, but he's definitely no slouch and deserves his place. "He's a listed winner only a few months ago, has multiple Sydney wins and gets in with a light weight. "He'll give them a bit of a shake.
" Diamond Diesel, prepared by Gosford's Adam Duggan, drew barrier nine and Gibbons carries 53 kilograms. They have teamed up previously, but only in trials. Diamond Diesel posted three wins in the space of four starts last preparation, most recently the listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on June 26, before resuming with two runs over the last two months.
Gibbons has also been called up to ride Kris Lees-trained Eclair Encore, a three-year-old Japanese filly, in the group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle on Saturday. "I think [fellow jockey] Chad Schofield was supposed to ride her but he's out injured so that was another one I only got late yesterday [Wednesday]," he said. "Nice to get on her.
I definitely think she's up to this grade, just whether she's there yet. "I won on her first start in a race [Taree in June] and every time I've sat on her, be it trial or trackwork, she's done nothing but impress me. "It will be a good day out for her just to see where she's at.
" Also at the stand-alone metropolitan meeting, Gibbons rides Dream Hour in the last and potentially Tanglewood Jimmy in the third. Five-year-old gelding Dream Hour, prepared by Lees and sporting the Australian Bloodstock colours, has been piloted by Jeff Penza, Craig Williams, Melbourne Cup winner Robbie Dolan and international Joao Moreira since Gibbons last saddled up in March. "Not just bouncing around riders, but seems to bounce around form," Gibbons said.
"This is where he can be winning, but just doesn't do it consistently. "Home track, right trip and true weight [52.5kg] so ticks a few boxes there.
" Wilkes-trained Tabglewood Jimmy remains the first emergency for the class three highway handicap over a mile. The track at Newcastle was rated a soft six on Thursday afternoon. My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald.
I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury. My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
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