Cejay Graham has made the most of a late pick-up ride to capture the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich aboard At Witz End, dedicating the victory to the injured jockey she replaced.
Samantha Collett was booked to partner the rejuvenated eight-year-old but was taken to hospital following a fall in the second race.
Graham, who has battled injuries throughout her career, was thrilled to land her second black-type win a month after claiming the Group 2 Queensland Guineas on Kintyre, but said she felt for Collett’s misfortune.
“I know what it’s like to be out, and my heart really goes out to her and I hope she is OK,” Graham said.
“This is for you Sam.
“She is going to be back in no time, and we can’t wait to have her back.”
Collett was conscious following the fall from Tuki Twelve but was taken to hospital for further examination after complaining of soreness in an arm.
She also missed the winning ride on Cocobrew Express in the third race, that mount picked up by Nikita Beriman.
At Witz End was a $10,000 online purchase for his trainer, Daniel Bowen, earlier this year.
The gelding has won four of his eight starts since joining the Lismore-based horseman’s team, delivering Bowen his first stakes success in the Listed ATC Cup at the Sunshine Coast in May and placing in the Chief De Beers Quality.
Bowen blamed himself for the gelding’s unplaced effort in Group 2 company last start but said overall, the veteran was in a purple patch of form.
“He is just flying,” Bowen said.
“It was a bad placement the other day when I ran him at Eagle Farm, I gave myself two black eyes and a fractured cheekbone by the time I got back to the stalls and I thought, what am I going to do? I have got to turn this into something good.
“I thought, I’ll go to the Eye Liner, and it worked out.”
Bowen isn’t sure of plans for At Witz End but says the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast next month, the Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton and The Kosciuszko (1200m) are all under consideration.
