Not only will Albury-based jockey Sarah McDonough make her debut in Alice Springs on Sunday, but her dad Russell will also see her in action on race day for the first time.
McDonough, 29, has four rides at Pioneer Park aboard Killzy, Governor, She’s Tuff Enuff and Roulette Queen for trainer Paul Gardner.
Killzy – $14 with the top Australian bookmakers – and Governor ($19) are her best hopes over 1400m at 0-58 level and 1000m in BM54 grade, respectively.
Frankfurt, the opening $1.50 favourite, will provide stiff opposition for Killzy, while the in-form Quanapirri Bay, the $3 favourite, will prove a handful for Governor.
She’s Tuff Enuff and Roulette Queen are both $26 hopes at Class 2 level over 1100m.
Visiting Alice Springs regularly as a kid to see her dad, McDonough settled in the town in 2019.
“I also had a job at a canteen and at a pizza place on top of trackwork, and I was clerk of the course as well, so I’m pretty familiar with the place,” she said.
McDonough then headed to Scone where she was apprenticed to trainer Jeremy Gask, but after four years she relocated to Albury some five months ago to ride for trainer Garry Worsnop.
“I always knew that I would get back to Alice Springs and ride, I’m really excited,” she said.
“Josh Gardner, Paul’s son, who I’ve known for years, rang me.
“I’ve been trying to get back for ages, but Alice meetings fall on the same day as meetings here.
“Dad is excited and he’ll be there on Sunday, as well as my step mum Nicky Jettner, family and family friends.
“There will certainly be a lot of faces I haven’t seen for a long time.”
McDonough will spend plenty of time travelling this weekend.
Along with fellow jockey Justin Stanley, who has five rides for Gardner on Sunday, the pair will travel 392km for the Balranald meeting on Saturday before making the 436km trip to Melbourne where they will board the Alice Springs flight on Sunday morning.
It’s a further 337km to Albury once arriving back in Melbourne.
“I’ve got a couple of good chances at Balranald and I think Governor is my best hope in Alice Springs,” she said.
“I’m happiest when I’m going to the races, so whether that means travelling it’s just part and parcel of it.”
McDonough, back riding after injuring her ankle when her mount flipped in the barriers at Pooncarie on September 21, hopes to return to Alice Springs for the meeting on November 9.
Horse racing news
