Racing: First day of jumps riding for Lowry

News Flash and jockey Jake Lowry are entering a new phase at Timaru today when they take on the...
News Flash and jockey Jake Lowry are entering a new phase at Timaru today when they take on the maiden hurdlers. Photo by Matt Smith.

This jumping bug out on the Taieri is proving to be contagious.

Jake Lowry is the latest Wingatui jockey to try his hand at jumps riding this season, following on from KC Walters and Shankar Muniandy.

Lowry will team up with stable favourite News Flash, and the defending Grand National Steeplechase champion, High Forty, in hurdles races at Phar Lap Raceway, Timaru, today.

Rather than jumps riding being part of a career path, Lowry said the idea had been "in the back of my mind''.

"Whether I did or not, I wasn't too worried about it,'' Lowry (18) said.

But when his training relations and employers, Brian and Shane Anderton, decided to try News Flash over hurdles, Lowry put his hand up.

"I had done a lot of the schooling on News Flash and it was probably just a change of training regime for him as an older gelding to give him something different.

"I always said to BJ if he went jumping, I'd like to do it.''

News Flash had been schooling on and off over the last two years and Lowry describes the 7yr-old as "pretty good'' over the obstacles.

"Him and Akal have done most of their work together - he's pretty easy [to ride],'' Lowry said.

"He's done everything right and he should go all right.''

News Flash has won from 1200m through to 2200m on the flat, and his adaptability gives Lowry options.

"Generally on the flat, he races fairly handy. It's a different cup of tea over the jumps but I'll probably just try and find the fence.''

Lowry will also jump aboard High Forty in the $20,000 restricted open hurdle.

"I'm pretty lucky to get on a horse of his calibre. He'll probably teach me a few things rather than me teaching him.''

High Forty has been kept away from the steeples in his last three starts as the Andertons try to avoid any extra weight for his attempt at defending his Koral-Grand National steeplechase double at Riccarton next month, but Lowry would not be surprised by a bold effort today.

"The handicapper has made it impossible over the steeples so the hurdles are keeping him fit,'' Lowry said.

"He's not out of that race. Between him and our other horse [Gold Leaf], they've got good form behind him and he's a leading hope.''

Lowry has one flat ride today, riding So Gallant in a 1600m maiden.

However, he is unsure how much of his 2kg allowance he'll be able to claim off the mare.

"I don't want to be doing it too hard [wasting]. Going into the jumps, I want to give it my best effort.

So Gallant has drawn wide, starting from no closer than second from the outside, although that should suit her racing pattern.

"She usually jumps and gets back a wee bit. I'll try and push the button a wee bit, but I'm not really concerned about that barrier draw.''

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