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By Ray Hickson

Group 1 winning jockeys Jason Collett and Zac Lloyd are heading west in a boost to Coonamble’s Country Championships meeting on March 16.

It’s become something of a tradition for some of Sydney’s leading riders to support the meeting, which features the $150,000 Evergreen Turf WRA Country Championships (1400m), and Collett and Lloyd add their names to an impressive list of visitors.

Last year Tommy Berry, who will again attend the meeting but is unlikely to be riding, and Sam Clipperton rode the quinella on Elson Boy and Gallant Star while James Orman also travelled down from Queensland.

Zac Lloyd (Pic: Bradley Photos).

And in 2022, champion hoops James McDonald and Hugh Bowman added their weight to the meeting.

Collett will likely be riding Gallant Star in the Country Championships, he guided the Brett Robb-trained gelding to victory in the Barn Dance last spring, while a mount for Lloyd is yet to be locked in.

“It’s a big thing, you’re holding the best event in the most remote qualifier and you’re getting the supreme jockeys,’’ Coonamble Jockey Club president Mick Heaney said.

“It’s a shame when the Gold Cup comes around, it’s a big meeting too, they can’t come and people understand because of The Everest but this one is good timing.

“Every year we’ve had them they’ve been so welcomed.

“They’re not frightened to get out sign a bit of merchandise and talk to the crowd. That’s why Tommy’s coming back because he’s mixed with the crowd and loved it.”

Heaney said there’s a good chance at least one more Sydney based rider could also attend the meeting.

Coonamble has hosted the WRA Country Championships since 2020 and it’s become a massive event in the community.

The meeting will be preceded by a huge Calcutta event at the Terminus Hotel in Coonamble and will include a charity fundraiser, this year supporting Royal Flying Doctors and the Jockeys Appeal Foundation.

“It’s a great night, we’ve normally got guest speakers, and in between the drawing of the horses and auctioning of the horses we have the charity auction,’’ Heaney said.

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