Mcevoy's Kembla Gig

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday August 6, 2008

By CHRIS ROOTS and AAP

MELBOURNE Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy will start his contract with Darley Australia as he rides four horses for Peter Snowden at Kembla Grange today, but his main hope of a winner could be Gemma's Boy.

The Gwenda Markwell six-year-old, who won the Kembla horse of the year last season, will be the international hoop's only outside mount in the True Blue Chemicals Handicap (2000m).

"We had Nash (Rawiller) on him but he got suspended, so we got Kerrin as a replacement, which isn't too bad," Markwell's racing manager Len Fownes said yesterday.

"He has only had the one ride for us before on Grand Zulu in the Caulfield Cup two years ago and we are hoping for a better result this time.

"We were quite confident that (Gemma's Boy) was well placed but he has drawn poorly in (barrier 15) and will need some luck, which we hope Kerrin can help with."

McEvoy has never ridden at Kembla but will look to continue Sheikh Mohammed's good record at the South Coast track on his first day as the No 1 rider for Darley in Australia.

Sheikh Mohammed owned the Keith Nolan Classic winner Bernica and his first winner after taking over the Woodlands operation was Ku Ring Gai at Kembla in May.

McEvoy will look to find a winner for his boss with Censorious, Movin' Out, Volte Face and last-start Gosford winner Googly.

First starter Volte Face could be the 27-year-old's best chance in the Ray White Albion Park Maiden Plate (1300m) after he impressed Snowden in both his barrier trials.

"He's shown me plenty and he's got some chance of winning this," Snowden said.

Meanwhile the Department of Primary Industries last night said initial test results from horses stabled adjacent to Ballina racecourse showed no signs of Hendra virus.

A scare was sent through NSW racing when a suspected case of the killer virus was discovered on Sunday but samples taken from 15 horses in the stable returned negative results.

The DPI has taken the precaution of secondary testing for every horse and is still monitoring their health.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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