McMahon returns to metro racing spotlight
Ric McMahon rides Outraged to victory at Doomben, ending a long metropolitan drought.
Talented Ric McMahon hopes his win on Outraged will help put him back in the limelight as a Saturday metropolitan jockey.
McMahon turned in a perfect ride on Outraged ($7.50) to win the Mother Mary Magdalan Burke Handicap (2040m) at Doomben.
He was Brisbane’s leading apprentice a decade ago and was among Brisbane’s best jockeys until a lengthy suspension in 2015.
McMahon has struggled to re-establish himself as a city jockey since returning to riding last year and mainly competes at the provincial tracks on Saturdays.
He rode 19 winners last season, including three at the city midweeks, but it was his first Saturday city winner in two years.
Trainer Kelly Schweida decided to give McMahon a chance on Outraged as the jockey had ridden the stayer for three previous wins including last year’s Townsville Cup.
McMahon was a regular rider for Schweida for many years and they combined for eight wins with the former top sprinter Better Than Ready who won three stakes races.
“I have been back riding work for Kelly and I was happy when he gave me a chance on Outraged as I have had plenty of success on him,” McMahon said.
Schweida was in Sydney with Shogun Sun but stable spokesman Glen O’Sullivan said Outraged deserved his win having been unlucky his previous three starts.
“I am really happy for Ric as he wasted hard to get down to 54 kilos and did a top job,” O’Sullivan said.
Earlier, Brad Stewart made the most of his only ride for the day when Mishani Sleuth ($1.95) for trainer Chris Anderson.
“It has me beaten how Brad could have only one ride but he made it a winning one for us,” Anderson said.
“The only worry was Mishani Sleuth was coming back from 1350m to 1200m but Brad rode him exactly like we wanted.”