The Irish jump jockeys team got off to a bad start to their Australian tour at Gawler, South Australia, earlier today. The traditional warm-up to this eight-race series is a high weight flat handicap run over 1950 metres but despite Mark Madden drawing the 2/1 favourite and Jimmy Mansell partnering a 7/2 chance, they were never in the hunt behind local winner Dane's Reward ridden by Grant Young.
Sean McDermott did best of the visitors, finishing fourth on outsider Bowood Road with Danny Howard taking fifth spot. Saturday sees a hurdle and a chase in Morphettville, both worth $25,000.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
