Latest News

By Julieanne Horsman

Reiby Rampart is full of confidence heading into heat two of the Provincial Championships at Hawkesbury this Thursday.

The four-year-old mare won her last start over 1400m at the track earlier this month, which buoyed her trainer’s hopes as well.

“It was a great win except the lane she followed wasn’t ideal,” Jason Attard said. “We’ve added a tongue tie to her gear and the improvement can be seen in her track work.

“After two runs she’s pretty fit and right where we want her to be at this point in her preparation.”

The run before that was also impressive but wasn’t reflected in the results.

“She had no luck from a wide gate and had to get too far back,” Attard said. “It was a tremendous run under the circumstances, especially the last 200m.”

Reiby Rampart has drawn ideally in barrier 7 for the $150,000 race in which the first three past the post qualify for the $400,000 final at Royal Randwick.

“She should be able to jump and sit midfield and hopefully not get boxed in so she can get out and have a clear run,” Attard said.

“Obviously she is against higher quality horses this time but she has improved since her last run.

“She does have the home track advantaged and the long straight a Hawkesbury is ideal for her the way she finished off her races.

“We’ve got a good jockey on in Glyn Schofield.

“The only query is the track. She hasn’t raced on a heavy track before but she has trained on one and still went well.”

Reiby Rampart took part in an exhibition gallop at Hawkesbury Race Club’s most recent meeting on 21 February.

“She kept up with group winner Sons Of John easily which was encouraging,” Attard said.

“I’m grateful to Hawkesbury Race Club CEO Greg Rudolph and Track Manager Jeff Hayne for putting that on.”

Sid and Caroline Kelly own Reiby Rampart and Jason Attard trains from their 100 acre property at Freeman’s Reach, just 10 minutes north of Hawkesbury Race Club.

He attributes his success to the couple and says without them he probably wouldn’t even have licence.

“I used to manage the property and break in horses for them and one day Sid suggested I should get my trainer’s licence and here I am,” Attard said.

“I was there when Reiby Rampart was foaled, I weaned her, broke her in and trained her so she is a very special horse to me.

“She’ll be even more special if she gets up in the Provincial Championships.”

View the fields, form and race replays for Hawkesbury's Country Championships Qualifier here.