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By Colin Hodges

Former rider Michael Hackett from Parkes tasted success on the other side of the fence as a owner when Way To Divine won the Elite Sand & Soil 1400m Country Boosted Maiden Plate at Dubbo.

Trained at Parkes by co-owner Sharon Jeffries and with Cowra jockey Mathew Cahill in the saddle, Way To Divine ($21) finished well along the inside to overhaul Release The Spirit (Ashleigh Stanley, $21) and win by a length with Rich Street (Andrew Banks, $61) another length away third.

Michael Hackett after winning a race on Fasfer at Tottenham in 2019. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

After riding 276 winners the jockey career of Michael Hackett came to an end when he suffered life threatening injuries in a 2019 race fall.

Of his many highlights in the saddle, well remembered are his eight wins on the grey mare Platinum Skye, rated among the best sprinters ever produced in the central west.

Bred by Simon Thompson and Janian McMillan from Wellington, owned by Danny Gregory from Mudgee and trained by Sharon Jeffries, Platinum Skye (by Intergaze from Sky News) at debut won a 1000m Maiden Handicap at Orange in November 2008.

The other wins for Michael Hackett on Platinum Skye were at Wellington (2), Orange, the Thunderbolt at Queanbeyan, Canberra, Warren and Coonamble while he was also a close second on Platinum Skye in the Flat Knacker at Albury.

Tiffany Jeffries, the daughter of Sharon and Dale Jeffries, won at Randwick on Platinum Skye while Dubbo based apprentice Joe Saiki had a win at Queanbeyan.

Sharon Jeffries recorded 10 wins and 4 placings from 18 starts with Platinum Skye before the horse left her stable.

Later trained by Garry Portelli at Warwick Farm, Platinum Skye had three starts, finishing 5th of 12 in the Listed-Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill, 4th of 8 in the Gr 2-Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield won by Black Caviar and 5th of 8 in the Gr 1-Caulfield Sprint.

The win by Way To Divine at Dubbo was a real family affair, the strapper Tiffany Jeffries who rode 167 winners before retirement, being the cousin of Michael Hackett.

Tiffany Jeffries and Michael Hackett were apprenticed to Sharon Jeffries and were tutored by Dale Jeffries who during an outstanding career rode the winner of every Cup in the Central districts.

Forbes hosts a TAB meeting on Thursday (August 29) to replace the Narromine Cup meeting washed out on Sunday. The Gulargambone Cup is scheduled for Saturday and Wellington (TAB) on Monday.