Jockeys Danny Mullins and Liam Gilligan will fly out to Australia this Saturday, August 31, to join Australian-based jockeys Shane Jackson and Ronan Short to make up the Irish team for the 2019 Australia v Ireland Jockey Challenge.
This is the 33rd consecutive year that an Irish team has been invited to Australia to participate in the jockey challenge. There have already been 43 contests staged in the two countries, with Ireland taking the honours on 27 occasions, Australia winning 15 times and one draw.
The series, which is based on a points system depending on the finishing positions, was won in 2018 by Team Ireland on a score of 32 points to 26.
This year’s race series will take place with two flat races (Highweight) on Wednesday 4 September at Gawler, and two races on Saturday 7 September at Morphettville Racecourse (hurdle and steeplechase). The four Irish Team riders will once again be competing against four riders representing Australia, all determined by the standings of the 2019 Dream Cruises Over The Rainbow Series held throughout the 2019 South Australian jumps racing season.
The team of jumps jockeys representing Australia will consist of Richard Cully, Will Gordon, Darryl Horner Jnr and Lee Horner, and they will be hoping to steal some Irish luck next week at the annual Australia v Ireland Jockey Challenge. Thanks to the generous support of ecycle solutions, 2019 will mark the 33rd consecutive year of a team traveling out from Ireland.
“The Challenge is always highly anticipated by both the jockeys and spectators and we’re optimistic with a very strong Aussie team bouncing back from last year’s close defeat,” Thoroughbred Racing SA CEO Jim Watters said.
For more information, please visit www.theracessa.com.au
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