Wayne’s stressless, but the horses weren’t biting

By David Nagel
STRESS was never going to be a problem for local jockey Wayne Davis at Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup meeting after he found the perfect way to relax last week in the lead up to the big day.
Davis headed down to the lake at Casey Fields for a spot of fishing with his two boys, Ben Guiney and Shaun Smith and although the fish weren’t biting he left with his batteries re-charged.
Davis has had a slow start to the new racing season which began on 1 August, he has ridden two winners, but things are looking up as he hopes to latch on to the improved performance of the local trainers.
Davis had two rides at Cranbourne and started the day off well. His mount in race two, the T.W Plastering Maiden Plate was Rebel to Riches, the three year old was sent out at big odds but Davis rode the horse superbly to finish third, two lengths behind the winner, Just for Show.
Davis had a long wait between rides on Sunday; he didn’t have to saddle up again for almost five hours so he had plenty of time to study up on some fishing tips.
Davis was confident about his ride in the last race of the day, Galileo Gold, who he rides in track work for local trainer, Doug Harrison.
"There’s nice speed in the race, he should be just off the speed and hit the line solidly, he’s been working well," Davis said.
"I know the trainer has a very high opinion of the horse so hopefully we get some luck in running and the result takes care of itself.
"He’ll run a mighty race."
Unfortunately for Davis, Galileo Gold was as successful as his mid-week fishing expedition and didn’t run up to his trial form in finishing a close up seventh, beaten two lengths by the Peter Moody trained Saint Angers.
It could be back to the lake for Davis to relieve that newly pent up stress.