Ric McMahon made a flying start to his new association with trainer Clarry Conners when he booted home Manor House as part of a winning double at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Conners lured McMahon from Brisbane to ride at the Warwick Farm meeting and the jockey’s victory on Manor House in the Carramar Maiden Plate (1200m) was followed by another win on the Barry Lockwood-trained Tokamak in the Chauvel Park Handicap (1200m).
The 23-year-old McMahon was supposed to make his Sydney debut for Conners at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago but couldn’t get a flight from Brisbane due to the Chilean volcanic ash cloud.
“I’d love a few more sit and steer jobs like that,” McMahon said after Manor House crossed from the outside barrier and led all the way.
“I’m not entirely sure what’s going to happen but Clarry has given me a bit of an opportunity here just to test the waters a fraction for both of us.
“I’m enjoying it and it would be nice to get a few opportunities from some other trainers down here as well because it’s hard to kind of put all your eggs in one basket.
“I guess we’ll just see how we match and whether Clarry wants me to come down full-time and whether I want to come down.”
McMahon won three apprentices’ premierships in Brisbane and has had a stint in Singapore.
He was contacted by Conners after winning on Tamworth galloper Altonio at Canterbury last month.
“It’s been a really good day, it puts my name out there and hopefully people see I’m riding winners and to get a few more opportunities would be nice,” McMahon said.
McMahon was one of three jockeys to bag a double at the meeting along with Nathan Berry and Jason Collett.
The Guy Walter-trained Dancing Attendance, a half-sister to the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence, sprinted quickly from back in the field to give Berry his first win in the Georges River Handicap (1600m) before two-year-old Road To Summer impressed on debut in the Fairfield Maiden Plate (1200m).
“She (Dancing Attendance) is a nicely-bred filly and I think she could make a really nice staying mare,” Walter said.
“I’m very pleased to see her win today and show a nice turn of foot. It could be a sign of things to come.”
Damien Oliver made his trip from Melbourne worthwhile with a winner on Mohtashem for trainer Chris Waller who prepared a double on the day.
Waller is 25.5 wins ahead in the Sydney premiership with just five meetings remaining.
AAP TURF
