Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons’ win on 2-year-old Meadow Land at Tuesday Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting was his one-hundredth win for the season. Gibbons had a career-best season of 137 winners in 2018-2019 but he wasn’t that confident of reaching the century this season after travelling to America in the early part of the season.
Obviously elated to notch up a century for the second time in his career. Gibbons told the Newcastle Herald he could have matched last years performance only for the time off early in the season.
“that was the 100 and it was nice to do it for Kris on my home track. The last month has been as good as any month last season so had I got on this roll earlier I might have matched last years season. Also, the time off I had early in the season held me back. With a couple of months off this seasons remaining hopefully I can go well past the century” Gibbons said.
All eye were on Lees Boom 2-year-old colt Meadow Land when he resumed in the 900 meter Maiden Plate. The Queensland owned juvenile was taken to the front by Gibbons shortly after the starts and he travelled kindly Meadow and was under siege at the ‘200’ meter challenged by Coat Of Arms. However, he fought back to win narrowly Lees was happy “He looked a little vulnerable late but he found under pressure and there was a long gap to the third” Lees said.
Boom apprentice Tom Sherry rode another three winners on his favourite track on Tuesday. The Irish boy rode a double for his master Mark Newnham aboard Fulmina and Arthur In Charge. His other winner was Trajection for Kim Waugh. Sherry has ridden 80 winners for the season, and he could easily reach the century by July 31.
Mitchell Bell rode two winners Zing for Chris Walker and Brook Hill for Bjorn Baker. Despite close on 50 millimetres of rain the Newcastle track again played magnificently. It was rated a soft 7 to kick off the meeting and it was upgraded to a soft 6 during the meeting.