Geraldton turf a “horses for courses track”

Field of Vision won the $100,000 feature race at the Geraldton Turf Club’s Australia Day meet on Sunday.

One of his owners has a message for the public — keep coming to the Geraldton races.

“We’re very happy, very pleased,” co-owner and trainer Jo-Anne Leeson said.

“He’s an older horse. Everyone had kind of discounted him, except for one owner,” she said.

She said he had had stress laminitis and been crippled for nine months.

“He couldn’t walk.”

Now, he has run three campaigns for Baldivis-based Leeson and co-owner Eddie McGuire, and has a total of $150, 960 in winnings.

“The horse knows where the line is,” she said.

“He’s absolutely confident at Geraldton. He won really well.”

Leeson did a double at Sunday’s meet. Her horse Rapid Asset, an eight-year-old gelding, won race five, the $15,500, 1400m Geoff McPherson Memorial Handicap.

Natasha Faithfull was the winning jockey in both races.

In the other races on the day, Kyra Yuill rode five-year-old mare Best Suspect, trained by Graeme Hammarquist, to victory in the $15,500, 1900m @GeraldtonToyota.com.au Handicap.

Peter Knuckey rode three-year-old filly Jevelation, trained by Tiarnna Robertson, to win the $14,000, 1100m Plate Clearance @ Geraldton Toyota Maiden.

Another two horses trained by Robertson had wins on Sunday.

Four-year-old gelding Trade Thunder, ridden by Troy Turner, won the $14,000, 1300m Waroa Maiden, while four-year-old mare Angry Annie won the $15,500, 1200m Rob Pettit Memorial Handicap.

Four-year-old gelding Kenyluck, trained by Allan Hughes and ridden by Ryan Hill, won race six, the $15,500, 1300m Geraldton Toyota Hybrid Handicap.

In the final race of the day, six-year-old gelding Summit Trail, trained by Graeme Hammarquist and ridden by Kyra Yuill, won the $15,500, 1600m Geraldton Toyota Mobility Handicap.

Leeson said Field of Vision would be going for a “well deserved let-up”.

But she said punters shouldn’t be letting up on their days out at the track.

“It’s a very good track, Geraldton, it’s a horses for courses track,” she said.

“Just keep coming to the races,” she said.

“Mum and Dad can have a drink, and the kids can run amok.”

She said a younger generation are attending track days, including young families.

“The glamour that goes on is incredible,” she said.