LOCAL turf history was created at the Moree Cup meeting on Sunday when female jockeys rode every winner on the eight-race card.
Father’s Day took a back-seat to Ladies’ Day, when Mollie Fitzgerald and Mikayla Weir led the way with winning doubles.
Cassey Williams, Zoe Hunt, Siena Grima and Ella Drew also rode winners – and, to truly make a statement, Weir, Fitzgerald and Grima ran the trifecta in the last race.
The rare feat has been achieved twice at Rockhampton, in 2010 and earlier this year, as well as Toowoomba in 2021 and Morphettville in South Australia in May.
Emerging apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, who only started riding 12 months ago, carried the banner with a winning double, including victory on $61 bolter Macleay in the 1400m Graysonline Moree Cup.
The day was certainly one to remember for her father, former top jockey, Malcolm Fitzgerald, as he watched his daughter help create local history.
“This is absolutely the best Fathers’ Day present. It’s been a great day,” Fitzgerald beamed.
“I’m extremely proud. Mollie had five rides today for two winners and a second, including the cup win – and for the ladies to ride the program is incredible.”
Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald gave proud dad, former top hoop Malcolm Fitzgerald, a Fathers’ Day to remember at the Moree Cup meeting on Sunday (Image Copyright).
Mollie, apprenticed to Tony Ball at Taree, began her career on August 18 last year.
Already, she’s ridden 60 winners, including the Inverell Cup and Inverell Shorts – her only rides – at the Sapphire City on New Year’s Day.
“Tony is a great boss. He puts Mollie on everything. He’s been phenomenal, and we couldn’t be happier,” Fitzgerald said.
Mollie currently runs third on the New South Wales country riding premiership behind Nick Heywood and Ben Looker.
“She’s won two premierships so far, the mid-north coast and the northern rivers champion apprentice,” Fitzgerald said proudly.
Moree Race Club president Rob Mather said the club’s signature meeting and cup-eve dinner brought plenty of visitors and good horses to Moree for a weekend of racing and fundraising for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
“The dinner was a good night, with $40,700 raised at the auction. The raffle money is still being tallied but that should top things up nicely – everyone dug deep to support a great service,” Mather said.
“The weather was perfect for us and the racing was very strong. The fields were first-class and some good horses raced. The Town Plate winner, Outiska, is city-class.
“We had near-full fields all day and we’ve created our own slice of racing history with the ladies riding every winner on the card – that’s a phenomenal achievement,” he said.
Words and Image: Bill Poulos
