It would be fair to say that Andrew Mallyon tends to fly under the radar a bit … a quality, top class rider who the spotlight, more often than not, seems to bypass in favour of those more famous in the riding ranks.
But that doesn’t mean Mallyon is not having a good season. On the contrary, his return of thirty-eight metropolitan winners over the first nine months of the current season, which has him placed fifth on the Brisbane Jockeys Premiership ladder, already far exceeds his previous full season offering of twenty-one and a half winners.
That is a significant improvement statistic-wise, and that effort has been rewarded with a ride for the strong Joe Pride stable in the Group 2 Victory Stakes in which Mallyon will partner Coal Crusher.
The seven-year-old chestnut has not saluted since winning the $1 million The Hunter in November 2023, but he has finished second in the Group 2 Expressway (behind King Of Sparta), third in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (behind Overpass) … and, perhaps most importantly, he finished in second place in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes behind Mazu, his $9 million winning stable companion, in his last start.
That last run franked the danger he will pose to his rivals on Saturday, particularly with a neat two weeks between runs.
The son of Turffontein is currently quoted in double figure odds.
The race appears to be wide open though, and he could well prove to be a value bet if he can repeat his last effort.
