Above: Joontoo Gemini bolts away to take last Thursday’s Travis Harrison Apprentices Cup at Cranbourne.By Brad Kingsbury
LEADING district trainer Robbie Laing targeted one of Cranbourne Turf Club’s annual feature races, the Travis Harrison Apprentice’s Cup, as the perfect event for his lightly raced mare Joontoo Gemini with perfect results.
The four-year-old ‘miler’ was ridden perfectly by star Ballarat apprentice Sebastian Murphy to win the $20,000 Class 2 race over 1600 metres and keep the sentimental trophy in Cranbourne for another year.
It was the 11th running of the race that is named in honour of apprentice jockey Travis Harrison who died tragically as a result of a car accident in May 1996.
Travis’ father Kevin, uncle Doug and late grandfather Tom have all been heavily involved in racing at Cranbourne for many years and Laing said he knew them well and was thrilled to win the race.
Joontoo Gemini paid $5.10 on the TAB and downed race favourites Justsay Sumthink and Spectrate to win the race.
Murphy is apprenticed to leading Western Districts trainer Darren Weir and has already outridden his weight claim at country tracks.
The TJ Harrison Handicap (named in honour of Tom Harrison) over 2025 metres was won by Mornington gelding Celtic Empire ridden by Chris Symons for Tony Noonan.
Three other Cranbourne-trained horses saluted on Thursday’s nine-race program.
The mother and daughter, trainer and jockey combination of Dianne and Sally Wynne combined to take out the first race with Demi Semi Quaver and Enver Jusufovic saddled Dance Maiden to win the third event.
The final race saw the fourth locally trained winner when Pat Hyland’s Class 1 performer Roslotta was first to the line.
Talented heavyweight jockey Brad Rawiller took out the day’s riding honours with a double.
