Racing: Gillies to join Cambridge team

Mathew Gillies rode 85 winners during his career. Photo / Warren Buckland

Cambridge horseman Graham Thomas will shortly be joined in a training partnership by the former champion jumps jockey Mathew Gillies.

"The application was posted on Monday so we're really looking forward to it," Thomas said.

"He's a very knowledgeable guy and he's going to help us a lot. I think we're in for a good season, we've got some nice young horses coming through."

Gillies, 31, won the jumps jockeys' premiership in 2013-14 and rode 85 winners during a career that featured a successful association with the powerful Kevin Myers stable.

Meanwhile, Thomas' group three winner Mangaroa Flo Jo will resume in the ITM Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth on Saturday.

Third in the event behind Pacorus 12 months ago, the High Chaparral mare is a three-time winner on the Taranaki course.

"She'll probably need a fresh-up run and next time she can step up to 2000m," Thomas said. "She's got black type now so we'll probably look at some cups races."

Meeska Mooska is also back in work and he too will be brought along with premier staying targets in mind.

"He's had a good, long break. After he won at Hawke's Bay carnival last year he got a terrible eye infection and he nearly lost the eye," Thomas said. "He came back and was only average so he went out again."

Meanwhile, the stable is keen on the chances of the promising Century Miss breaking through in today's Mills Reef 2160m at Tauranga.

"Her work has been very good so we're pretty hopeful," Thomas said.

Sixth on debut, Century Miss was runner-up at Matamata two starts back and was again second next time out in her middle distance debut at Pukekohe.

- NZ Racing Desk