Picnic jockey Sebastian Galea will head home to his old stomping ground on Saturday when taking a book of five rides on the Macquarie Picnic Racing Club meeting at Trangie.
After completing most of his high schooling in Trangie, Galea hopes to land a winner or two in front of a crowd with many familiar faces.
“It would mean the world to me,” Galea said.
“I know a lot of my old schoolmates will be out there, and to do it in front of them would be a big thrill.”
The feature on the program is the Macquarie Picnic Cup (1400m), and the 17-year-old will get every chance aboard the Jane Clement-trained Amazingly.
A seven-time winner, the Starcraft gelding won the 2022 Glen Innes Cup and the 2023 Deepwater Cup.
The rising nine-year-old raced in good form during June, finishing second to the Graeme Brooker-trained Plectrum in the Walgett Cup before running another second to the Pat Webster-trained Palate in the Mungindi Cup.
At his last start, Amazingly ran third behind the Connie Greig-trained Gossip in the Wean Cup earlier this month.
It will be a tall order at Trangie, with the Bendemeer galloper allotted 74.5 kilograms, but connections have drawn favourably with gate three.
“He’s the class horse, and that’s why he got the weight,” Galea said.
“Still, horses have been winning Picnic Cups with those weights, and we’ll get to take three kilos off because of my claim, and with 71.5kg, I’m very confident he can win.”
Galea will take two rides for Clement and will also jump aboard Adviser in the 1100m Blass B Handicap.
The four-year-old landed his second career win at Wean on July 9, and Galea believes the All Too Hard gelding is in with a chance.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it won,” he said.
“It gets in good with the weights and looks like an excellent chance.”
Galea, who brought up his first win on the Joseph Craig-trained Pridepluck at Moree on May 27, has since won at Coonamble on June 3 when aboard the Kieren Hazelton-trained Zamali before landing a double at Bligh picnic races on June 17, winning on the Peter Kirby-trained Her Call and the Daniel Stanley-trained Bush Warrior.
“I’m feeling really good,” Galea said.
“My weight is getting good, I’m eating a lot better, I’ve got a better frame of mind, and I’m just a lot happier at the moment,” Galea said.
Working for Bjorn Baker at Warwick Far, Galea is riding ten or more horses a morning, and he has set himself a new goal of progressing to the professional riding ranks.
“I’ve been with Bjorn for a bit over a month, and they look after you and treat you like family,” Galea said.
“I’ve learned so much, and I feel like I’m riding better, and I’ve been enjoying it so much, and I’m riding some really nice horses, which makes it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
“At Bedgerabong back in February, I was walking around at 57kg and 56kg, and if I can keep on top of my weight and keep riding well, I want to get back to that weight and turn professional, and I’ve already spoken to Bjorn about it.”
First things first, though, and Galea will focus on some good chances at Trangie on Saturday.
On top of riding for Clement, the youngster hops aboard the Maree Hopkins-trained Schmacko in the 1100m Maiden Plate, the Ian Holland-trained Castlehyde in the 1400m Maiden Plate, and the Geoffrey Crothers-trained Nopain in the 1400m Class B Handicap.
For Trangie’s fields, click here.
