Mauritius Message Board: Morphettville jockey’s date with destiny

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Morphettville jockey’s date with destiny

Posted by Guardian Messenger on 2/11/2009, 8:32 am
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SELLING cars in Geraldton wasn’t exactly what aspiring jockey Dominic Tourneur wanted from a career.

But his decision to move from WA to Adelaide four years ago is paying off for the 35-year-old hoop, who is gearing up for the ride of his life.

The Morphettville-based Tourneur looks set to ride promising stayer Alcopop in this month’s $5.5 million Melbourne Cup after a run of impressive victories on the gelding.

“It’s a grand opportunity to get a mount in the Melbourne Cup it’s every jockey’s dream,” Tourneur said of what will be his maiden ride in Australia’s richest race.

“But there’s still plenty of racing between now and then to focus on, so I’ll try and keep it in the back of my mind but as it gets closer I’m sure I’ll start thinking about it more.”

Alcopop has won its past four starts, including the Balaklava Cup and two victories in Melbourne.

But it was his commanding win in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 that has Alcopop second favourite to take out the nation’s most famous race at Flemington on November 3. Tourneur, of Flagstaff Hill, paired with Alcopop for three of those victories, missing the Balaklava Cup through suspension.

The father of two, who started his apprenticeship in Perth more than a decade ago, moved from Geraldton to Adelaide in 2005 a move he said had been worthwhile.

“I’ve won a lot of feature races since I’ve been here in Adelaide, and the Balaklava Cup win in my first year over here was great too,” he said. “But Alcopop has been the absolute highlight so far for sure.”

He described the rise of Alcopop which has won seven races from just 10 starts under the guidance of Victor Harbor trainer Jake Stephens as a “real revelation”.

“It’s amazing really because he had his first-ever start on Melbourne Cup Day at Morphettville last year. After the race which he won Jake joked with the other trainers that he’d be running in the Cup itself the next year.”

Tourneur said the past few weeks had cemented the gelding’s status as one to watch.

“He’s got a great temperament he’s very relaxed and is a pretty cool customer actually.

“But when it gets down to the business end, he really wants to get the job done.”