KIWI jumps jockey Aaron Kuru produced an amazing piece of horsemanship in New Zealand, recovering from a mid-race tumble from his mount to go on and score a remarkable win.

Kuru was dumped from Des De Jeu after the gelding blundered after clearing an early jump in the Maiden Steeplechase at Awapuni on Saturday.

The horse fell flat on its stomach and Kuru was tipped out of the saddle but held on to the reins and managed to jump back on the horse as it rose to its feet before they charged home to run down the race favourite Gagarin to win the 3200m race.

“I can’t explain it, it just happened and I got back on,” Kuru said. “The horse has got a lot of ability.” You’ve got that right, Aaron, and so do you.

*****

ROYAL Ascot kicks off on Tuesday night (Australian time) and while it’s one of the most prestigious carnivals in the world, Australian horses certainly aren’t going there for the money. For the first time the five-day carnival will be worth 7 million pounds (over 30 races), which works out to be about $12.5m Australian dollars, or $500,000 less than The Everest.

Shinn grilled
RACING NSW stewards questioned rider Blake Shinn and trainer Chris Waller after Gresham’s unplaced run at Rosehill when sent out a $2.25 favourite. He led as expected but stayed on the rail in the straight where he weakened out of the placings to run sixth. Acting chief steward Phil Dingwall accepted Waller’s explanation that there was no obvious track bias going into the race which would have demanded Shinn get away from the inside rail.

*****

KRIS Lees may look to get Nurse Kitchen over a staying trip next start after she struggled to keep up with the field in Black On Gold’s win over 2000m at Rosehill. “Kris suggested maybe 2400m next start and I thought she needed a softer track too,” jockey Jason Collett told stewards. “She never travelled comfortably and when I did tack on to the field they quickened.”

Bully saddles-up for The Everest
CULT hero Bully is at it again. And so is his owner Kim Waugh, who is apparently getting him ready for a crack at The Everest, according to this picture. He looks the part, doesn’t he?

Good as Gold
THE reason why there was such a load roar when Nicci’s Gold got up in a photo at Rosehill on Saturday was that she’s owned by 38 people through Gold Edge Syndications which is run by Craig Purcell, Graeme Theobald and Robert Rowan. Nicci’s Gold cost just $25,000 and the win took her earnings to $178,220 from 13 starts for trainer Gary Portelli. “We only buy fillies and we look at spending no more than $50,000,” Rowan said. “We’ve got a system where we don’t buy first foals of unraced mares and so far it’s worked.”

*****

CHECK out the pedigree of Rosehill winner My Blue Jeans’s sire Barbados, who is racking up winners at almost a 50 per cent strike rate. Barbados stands at Ducatoon Park in South Australia and trainer Danny Williams bought his son for just $10,000. There’s also a bit of Gunsynd in his bloodline, too. “That’s quite incredible and he’s a very well-bred horse by Redoute’s Choice out of Virage De Fortune whose mother (Virage) is out of Emancipation,” Williams said. “The reason I bought this horse is because I trained Fox Lake, which his out of a half-sister to the dam, and he’s also related to Highway Sixtysix which I think is a nice horse in the making.”

Money spinners
TOULOUSE was the first cheap horse to win at Rosehill on Saturday. The $50,000 purchase’s win in the opener earned his connections $75,875. For $85,000 you could have bought Toulouse, My Blue Jeans and Nicci’s Gold and after Saturday’s success the trio have won $330,815 between them.

*****

TONY McEvoy won the third race at Morphettville with Casino Club but due to a double protest in the previous event the race started 12 minutes late. That must be close to a record.

*****

TEMEYEZ looked disappointing in the first race at Rosehill when 10 lengths last to Toulouse but jockey Andrew Adkins said he was better than that. “I think they were just a bit sharp for him, coming back in distance. He’s just a one-paced horse that needs to get beyond a mile,” he said to stewards.

*****

STRAPPER Gina Anderson was kicked in her hip by a horse at Dubbo races on Saturday. She was taken to Dubbo Hospital for X-rays and treatment. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery and no doubt she will be back caring for horses soon.

HORSES TO FOLLOW: Invinzabeel (next start), Dagny (forgive run), Just Bute (knocking on the door)

ONES TO SACK: Pedicel (no turn of foot), Intueri (too many chances)

RIDE OF THE DAY: Kerrin McEvoy on My Blue Jeans (well-judged ride on a tricky horse)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “She’s a ‘tart’ — everything you do with her has to be on her terms,” said Joe Pride after La Chica Bella won.