Jim Byrne is struggling to retain his jockeys’ premiership but has the chance to claim a different title aboard Lauterbrunnen in the final Brisbane stakes race of the season.
The four time champion rider failed to get a winner at the Gold Coast on Wednesday while rival Jeff Lloyd finished the day with a victory on Bound For Love.
Lloyd now leads Byrne 75 winners to 71.5 winners with three meetings left.
But Byrne will bring up his 10th stakes winner of the season in Brisbane if Lauterbrunnen wins the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday.
He goes into the race equal with Brian York who claimed his nine stakes winners in Brisbane during the 1987/88 season.
Byrne’s wins to date are the Queensland Cup (Murphy’s Delight), Doomben Roses (Kebede), Singapore Members Cup (Jumbo Prince), Falvelon Quality (Whiskey Allround), Nudgee Quality (Tina Melina), McLachlan Classic (Zelady’s Night Out), Calaway Gal Classic (Zelady’s Night Out), Lough Neagh Stakes (Fontelina), and Mode Plate (Secret Saga).
He also won the recent Rockhampton Newmarket on Lauterbrunnen before they finished third in a Doomben Open Handicap (1600m) two weeks ago.
Trainer Rob Heathcote is confident both Byrne and Lauterbrunnen can perform to their best on Saturday.
“The barrier (8) is no luxury for Lauterbrunnen and it will take a top ride from Jim. But they didn’t have much luck last start and they meet a similar field,” Heathcote said.
“Jim really seems to have come into his own as a top class jockey in recent years. It doesn’t surprise me he has ridden so many stakes winners this year.”
Heathcote has been forced to scratch Bewhatyouwannabe from the race after the horse became cast in his box earlier this week.
The Eagle Farm trainer will again finish second to Tony Gollan in the metropolitan trainers’ premiership but it has been another good season.
Heathcote won 60 races in the Brisbane metropolitan area as well as four Group One races with his champion Buffering.
“It has been a good year and it would be nice to finish with another stakes winner,” he said.
