Snowflake scratching aids Nolen
06 Jul 2012 | Racing Victoria Ltd The intriguing battle for the metro jockeys’ premiership continues on Saturday at Flemington.
Winter Finals Day is not even here yet, but Luke Nolen's hopes of at least drawing level with Craig Newitt in the race for the Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership have already improved.
Newitt, who leads defending back-to-back titleholder Nolen by one – 65 to 64 – lost his best ride at tomorrow's Flemington meeting when classy filly Isabella Snowflake was scratched from the Victorian Carbine Club Plate that kicks off the card.
A dominant winner up the straight on debut, Isabella Snowflake was TAB Sportsbet's shortest-priced favourite of the day at $2.10 at the time of her withdrawal.
The Mick Price-trained youngster's scratching leaves Nolen to now ride the day's shortest-priced runner with the Peter Moody-trained Club Command a raging $2.35 popular elect for the Slickpix/TVN Silver Bowl Final (Race 4).
Newitt's remaining six rides all have several others ahead of them in their respective markets.
Future Solution is at $9 in the Listed TROA/Luxbet Winter Championship Final (Race 6), Perfectly Stunning is a $9.50 chance in the Rivette Series Final (Race 8), while Verdasco (All Victorian Sprint Series Final, Race 7) and Geejayhaitch (Banjo Paterson Series Final, Race 5) are both at $10.
Stratigraphy is an $11 chance in the Australian Lamb Company Handicap (Race 3), while He's A Steal is at $13 in the TVN/Slickpix Silver Bowl Series Final.
In contrast, Nolen's only ride at a double-figure quote is Doubtful Jack, who is a $17 chance in the Winter Championship Final, a race he won two years ago.
The other favourite Nolen rides is former Queenslander Ready To Rip, who has been one of the best-backed runners of the day, in from $10 to $4 in the All Victorian Sprint Series decider.
Debut Adelaide winner Zounite is now the $4.20 second elect in the opening event, behind the Mark Kavanagh-trained Sweetener ($3.50), while Aliberani is at $5.50 behind stablemate Dayita ($4.60) in the Rivette Series Final.
Nolen rides Rushworth ($7) in the third event on the eight-race card and will be aboard My Bentley ($8) in the Banjo Paterson Series Final.