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Tasmania to welcome jockey stars for Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival

3 minute read

Four of Australia’s leading jockeys will be in Tasmania early next year to ride on Ladbrokes Hobart and Launceston Cup days.

Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said Ben Melham and Jamie Kah would ride on Hobart Cup day, and Mark Zahra and Damian Lane would be available for rides on Launceston Cup Day.

"Tasracing will liaise between trainers, connections and the jockeys' managers to confirm their rides," he said.

Mr Jenkins said the jockeys had agreed to make the trip to Tasmania following an invitation being extended by Tasracing in partnership with Ladbrokes.

"We are obviously delighted that these top-line jockeys have made themselves available for the two key thoroughbred race days during the festival," he said.

"It is an outstanding show of support in Tasmanian racing that we are confident will provide significant promotional opportunities for the festival, both locally and interstate."

Mr Jenkins said all four jockeys had won at Group 1 level.

"Mark Zahra won back-to-back Melbourne Cups on Without A Fight in 2023 and on Gold Trip in 2022, and the Caulfield Cup in 2023, also on Without A Fight, and on Verry Elleegant in 2020," he said.

"And Jamie Kah has been the world's top-ranked female jockey for at least the past four years. She also was the first jockey to ride more than 100 winners in a single Melbourne metro season."

Mr Jenkins said Damian Lane had enjoyed great success in Japan and Australia.

"He has ridden winners in many of the major races in both countries, including here in the Caufield Cup (Mer De Glace), the Caufield Guineas (Private Life) and the Cox Plate on board Lys Gracieux," he said.

"He also rode Lys Gracieux to wins in the Arima Kinen and the Japanese Derby.

"Ben Melham claimed his first Group 1 win aboard champion mare Black Caviar in the Patinack Farm Classic. Ben also took out one of the biggest races in the country when winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper on She Will Reign."


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