Glen Colless showed he is back in the form which had him rated one of Australia’s best jockeys with his win on Lever Lever at Doomben.
It was Colless’ first metropolitan winner since he resumed late last month after being badly injured when thrown from Hazard Bay on the way to the barrier at Doomben on September 20.
Hazard Bay stood on Colless’ face and body leaving him with a fractured cheekbone, multiple fractures to his nose and injuries to his wrist and elbow.
Colless, 47, has employed a personal trainer to get back in shape and it is paying off.
He took all the short cuts on Thursday to steer the favourite Lever Lever ($4) to a short neck win over Supercoach ($8) in the Brisbane Marriott Hotel Handicap.
It was Lever Lever’s second win in 11 starts but he had run eight previous minor placings.
“I couldn’t really muck that one up. I had barrier three and when they started to spread out I was able to get a lovely run on the rails,” Colless said.
Winning trainer Matt Dunn said Lever Lever had always shown ability as a stayer and he had wanted to start him in last year’s Queensland Derby.
“He didn’t make the field but I felt he was a stayer of that class. I know he had won only one race before today and that was 12 months ago but really he has been very unlucky,” Dunn said.
Former smart two-year-old Vienna Royale earned himself a start in next week’s Magic Millions Guineas with his win in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap (1200m).
The win gave trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Tegan Harrison a double as they had earlier won with Max It Out.
“Vienna Royale won his first start by five lengths but nothing has gone right since,” Gollan said.
“After the winter we decided to give him a good spell and it seems to have done the trick.
“The Guineas is a one million-dollar race and he will get the 1400 metres. The only way he wouldn’t run is if it is too soft.”
Apprentice Bridget Grylls was suspended for seven meetings after being found guilty of causing interference.
