We don’t get to write many stories about riders from South Australia.
Certainly not apprentice jockeys as most of the time the eastern seaboard hoops dominate the headlines.
But, this story needs to be told.
Sunday at Port Augusta races, the big race was the Port Augusta Cup over 2300m and it was won by an outsider named CONNERMARA ROSE (Good Journey – Baroness Rose).
It was only just won by her as she fought hard with Azzureous to land the chocolates by a nose.
Winning rider, star apprentice Lizzie Annells, deserves much applause for the ride.
It was so good, as horse and rider ran a race record as well. Annells has that ability – she can get the best out of her mounts and a few keen punters suspected something was on as the money went on the $16 chance.
What wasn’t known until a short while after the race was just why the money went on.
Someone, a mysterious campaigner for the excellent work done, wanted money for The Brainchild Federation, a not-for-profit charitable organisation set up to help children and their families who are effected by brain and spinal cord injuries.
These are things wounded riders often suffer from as well.
It was discovered that a good few nice sized bets were placed on Connermara Rose and Lizzie and when she won the race, ALL of the winnings from those specific bets was donated to The Brainchild Foundation.
Lizzie Annells heard about this and was moved by the gesture.
So she contacted The Brainchild Foundation.
Once she found out about who they were, what they stood for, she decided it would be helpful to them if she – donated her riding fees from the Cup ride to them as well.
There was no fanfare or hullabaloo about what she did, nor any press coverage after such a determined ride.
Until now.
Often, in fact nearly always, these acts of genuine benevolence and kindness go unnoticed by the media unless a senior, massively wealthy eastern seaboard rider does them.
Well, not this time.
Lizzie Annells rode an inspired race and her subsequent actions are even more inspirational.
“I love tyour work guys, so I’m happily donating my riding fees for Connermara Rose.”
“This little mare Connermara Rose fended off a solid field in winning the Port Augusta Cup after a number of recent placings. Huge congrats to the connections for their patience, well deserved.
“I’m just very grateful to take the reins today and pleased to pick up my first Cup victory,” she graciously said.
Let’s trust that the universe anoints her with more Cup winning rides.
