Jockeys aim for premierships | Coffs Coast Horses | Horse Riding, Horseback in Coffs Coast

RACING at Coffs Harbour today will deliver strong clues as to who the favourites are for this season’s three major Northern Rivers premierships.

Local jockey Raymond Spokes is on course for his maiden premiership victory with a six win lead over multiple winner Darron Coleman who moved past defending champion Marlon Dolendo with a winning double at Ballina on Saturday.

Spokes has top rides in six of the seven races at the Coates Hire meeting, five of them for main retainer Brett Bellamy and all under double figures in the market.

Coleman won’t be riding at the meeting but Dolendo will be on five top fancies including pre-post favourite Master Danny.

Trainer Danny Bowen moved further ahead in the trainer’s premiership with a double at Ballina to put him three clear of Brett Bellamy and John Shelton.

But with strong acceptances and a share of good luck today, Bellamy could move closer to the lead on his home track.

While apprentice jockey Ben Looker is now based in Sydney on loan to Gai Waterhouse, the ten-win lead he set up before heading south is likely to get him across the line by the end of the season on July 31.

His only danger is Bowen’s apprentice Motoki Okada who also rode a winner at Ballina on the weekend and the youngster has one mount at Coffs today, on Ustino A Girl in the last.

Jockey’s Premiership

Raymond Spokes 33

Darron Coleman 27

Marlon Dolendo 26

Ben Looker (a) 19

Chris Whiteley 18

Peter Graham 15

Jasen Watkins 10

John Keating 9

George Auckram 9

Stephen Traecey 9

 

Top 10 Trainers

Danny Bowen 21

Brett Bellamy 18

John Shelton 18

Stephen Lee 15

Brett Dodson 11

Trevor Hardy 11

Gordon Yorke 10

Bruce Swan 9

Sue Birney 8

Jim Jarvis 7

 

Leading Apprentices

Ben Looker 19

Motoki Okada 10

Emily Kehoe 9

Luke Rolls 8

Josh Jones 7

Michael Fitzgerald 6

Allan Chau 5

Belinda Hodder 3

Kelly Gates 3

Matthew Milford 3