This Saturday April 9 the Royal Randwick Racecourse will host the 150th AJC Australian Derby and the bumper nine-race programme at the meeting will also kick off the inaugural George Moore Jockey Challenge.
As an added incentive for the country’s best hoops to bring their A-game on Saturday, the George Moore Jockey Challenge will commence with Randwick Race 1 on Derby Day.
The Challenge will continue through until the final race on the Sydney Cup Day card on Saturday April 23.
For each win during this three-week period of the ATC Sydney Autumn Carnival jockeys will be awarded three points for a win, two points when finishing second and one point for each third placegetter they ride.
At the end of the challenge the jockey to amass the highest total points will be awarded the foundational George Moore Trophy at an esteemed Schweppes Sydney Cup Day ceremony.
The George Moore Jockey Challenge is named in honour of one of racing’s greatest ever jockeys, George Moore.
The champion Queenslander enjoyed a stunning career that spanned over more than 30 years in which he won 312 metropolitan Stakes races and rode 119 Group 1 winners to glory.
“It is only fitting that Australian Turf Club introduces this award to recognise the marvellous achievements of George Moore, particularly at Royal Randwick,” ATC chairman John Cornis said.
Jimmy Choux will attempt the Rosehill Guineas - AJC Derby Double at Randwick on Saturday
Among George Moore’s achievements on the track were five AJC Derby victories and three wins in the annual Sydney Cup.
George Moore won the AJC Derby aboard Playboy (1949), Tulloch (1957), Summer Prince (1962), Summer Fiesta (1963) and Classic Mission (1971).
The 2011 AJC Australian Derby field features 14 quality galloper with raging favourite being glamour Kiwi colt Jimmy Choux.
At his Australian debut on March 26, Jimmy Choux completed the rare New Zealand Derby / Rosehill Guineas double and on Saturday the Thorn Park colt will attempt another notable achievement.
Jockey Jonathan Riddell and Jimmy Choux are seeking the coveted Rosehill Guineas / AJC Derby Double that George Moore scored aboard Tulloch in the autumn of 1957.
Jimmy Choux improved his claims drawing ideally with gate one in the 2011 AJC Derby barriers today.
The other major drawcard at this year’s AJC Derby Day is superstar mare Black Caviar who will attempt to win an unprecedented 12th consecutive race when she lines up in the $1 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
