John Schell
Top country jockey Aaron Bullock is out to finish the racing season with a winning flurry having racked up a century of winners in NSW for the campaign at the end of last month.
A regular at the top of the statewide premiership, and also a national title winner in season 2022-23, Bullock will be in action at Muswellbrook on Tuesday where he has a strong book of five rides on the eight-race card.
Bullock will begin his day riding first-starter Valedor for co-trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich – for whom he piloted Cormier to second in last month’s Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm – in the Horsepower Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1280m).
Valedor will sport the Arrowfield colours and is a three-year-old gelding by Street Boss out of the mare Earth Angel. He’s had four barrier trials in preparation for his debut, and Bullock has been aboard in two of them, winning the latest at Scone on July 1.
Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith will provide Bullock with two rides at Muswellbrook: Nielsen Park in the Membership Open Now 3YO&Up Maiden Plate (1000m), and Condone in the Bengalla Cup Sun 26 July Benchmark 66 Handicap (1280m).
Both gallopers are having their first start for Griffth having been previously prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott respectively.
Nielsen Park will start from barrier one, and despite being unplaced in all six starts, he has been close enough in a couple of provincial runs to suggest he can do well.
Condone has drawn an outside gate in its event and was a Warwick Farm Super 3YO Maiden winner two starts ago before running eighth at the same track at its latest start.
Bullock will link with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees when riding last-start Muswellbrook third placegetter Dark Justice in the TAB Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1750m).
His remaining ride will be on the Todd Howlett-trained Supido Star in the TAB Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) with Bullock out to make it two straight wins on the filly.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
