By Craig Kerry
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts.
A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone’s standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle.
Private Legacy, second from left, finishing runner-up to Grinzinger Belle, right, in the group 3 Catanach’s 150 Years Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12 last year.Credit: Racing Photos via Getty Images
Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level.
With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim.
The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan.
He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices’ premiership next season.
Jace McMurray gets his first city winner on Fiorsum Fred at Scone on May 17.Credit: Getty Images
And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town.
Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
“I’m very grateful for that,” McMurray said of the ride on Private Legacy.
“We’ve drawn well, so that makes my life a bit easier. It’s been good here, and I was happy to see I had a few rides, pretty much a full book for this weekend, so it’s pretty exciting.
“Obviously, I’m working out the different tracks here. I still haven’t been to Rosehill, but we’ll get there this weekend, so it’s all working out well.”
Speaking early on Wednesday at Canterbury, Hickman said the only concerns with Private Legacy for Saturday were the potential for a wet track and the booking of an inexperienced rider. McMurray then racked up a double for Freedman, pushing Inside Man to a come-from-behind win before rating Just Feelin’ Lucky out in front for a dominant victory.
The performances would have given Hickman confidence in McMurray, and he was already backing his four-year-old to back up her breakthrough black-type win on May 10 if Rosehill dries out enough. The track was a Heavy 9 early on Thursday with sunnier skies predicted.
“For her to go around this weekend, hopefully the weather stays like this, and it will get upgraded back to a six or so, that’d be nice,” Hickman said.
“I don’t think we need to [run her on heavy].
“I’m just trying to keep her ticked over, and then she’ll have a little let up somewhere along the line. My main aim this time will be the Magic Millions, a 2200m restricted race, in January.”
The Warwick Farm trainer was looking to a Randwick race next month as a potential last run before a spell.
Hickman, who trained the mare’s mother, Private Secretary, bought Private Legacy for $90,000 as a yearling.
“She was my first million-dollar winner,” he said of Private Secretary, which he bought for $32,000.
“Not a lot of people pick it up, but her family goes back to Secretariat. That’s why it’s Private Secretary. And she’s also related to the other American champion, Seabiscuit.
“I’ve been very, very lucky since I’ve been training. There’s always been one good one there, and she’s taken over, so hopefully we can keep it going.”
Of his other chances on the program, McMurray has four rides for Freedman; Codetta (race five, $9.50), Edited By (six, $9.50), Spanish Fox (seven, $13) and Queen Of The Mile (10, $26).
“I rode Spanish Fox last start, and he’s obviously looking for that little bit further. He’s going well,” McMurray said.
“Codetta, I’ve trialled and done a little bit of work on and if it stays a soft or heavy track, it will definitely be suitable.
“I rode Edited By at the Kensington track and he’s obviously going well.”
His best hope could be Kadall ($8), for Annabel and Rob Archibald, in the fourth. McMurray’s other rides are Zulfiqar for Richard Litt in the Midway Handicap and Zoomorphic for Scone trainer Scott Singleton in the Highway Handicap. He had his first city win for Singleton at Scone with Fiorsum Fred.
