VIDEO: Batchelor Boy wins again on hot favourite

Sunday 24 July 2016

Jockey Mattie Batchelor won his second Jersey Derby as Aussie Lyrics romped home to win the biggest race of the season at Les Landes today.

Firm favourite Aussie Lyrics (4-7 on, Fav) bided his time before pulling clear in the final furlong, leaving Bowl Imperior well behind.

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Drama unfolded at the start as the four-horse field effectively became three when Benoordenhout unseated rider Tim Clark just as the flag went down. 

Clark managed to re-mount but by then was almost a furlong down, leaving the £2,380 first prize to be contested by only three horses. 

Aussie Lyrics looked comfortable throughout the first circuit and Batchelor eased her past Bowl Imperior to win by a distance, with Blue Sea of Ibrox last.

Batchelor said: “To be fair, anyone could have won today, I just had to guide her safely around. I missed what happened at the start but one of the other jockeys told me as we were going round and I had a little giggle. It certainly made the job easier as Benoordenhout was second favourite for a good reason.

“It is a brilliant race to win and I’m delighted.”

Winning trainer Christa Gilbert said Aussie Lyrics has come into form at just the right time for the Jersey Derby, run over a mile and half for three year olds or more. 

She said: “We have been very lucky and then for Benoordenhout to lose out like that made it a much simpler task to win the race. Mattie rode brilliantly and it is a real honour to win again.”