Utakarra track a favourite for Noske

Experienced jockey Jerry Noske won the first race at Geraldton yesterday on Hillside Ruler, a horse having its second start at Utakarra. Noske won the $14,000 TAB Touch Maiden. The Tony Scally-trained three-year-old placed third in the Batavia Sprint on January 26. Noske is no stranger to the Geraldton track, having ridden there since the start of her career about seven years ago. “He goes all right,” Noske said of Hillside Ruler. “I think the owners will have some fun with him.” She said it was always a good day out at Geraldton. “The people are pretty good to you,” she said. “I’ve had some good success with Tony Scally. “The weather, the track, it’s just a really good shape and has really good grass. I usually get pretty good rides. It’s usually sunny. It’s a pretty long day but worth it.” Noske said the Geraldton race calendar also helped jockeys. “It’s a really long season, which is good for us,” she said. Noske is from a well-known racing family — her father is trainer and former jockey Jeff, and her brother is jockey Jarrad. “I’ve been doing it since I was 12,” Noske said. “I’m pretty lucky to be able to make a living. I was worried as an apprentice I wouldn’t have longevity, but I’m still riding.” Noske said family support was the key to that — and coaching from her brother was important. She used to do boxing to get fit, but now just does track work. Noske has 10 wins this season, three of them in the country, and 12 second placings. Scally was full of praise for Noske’s win. “It was a very, very good ride by Jerry,” he said.