HORSE RACING
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He was the one name on the tip of everyone's tongue on Saturday after apprentice Brodie Loy rode half the card at Kembla Grange.
Just a week after he put together back-to-back doubles in the Illawarra, Loy again showed why he's considered by many as a rising star of the sport with four winners.
He started the day out with a win on Lie Direct in race one before stringing a hat-trick with Rightoncue (race 5), Brilliant Meteor (race 6) and Della's Diamond (race 7).
"That is a new PB for me. I am happy with how the day panned out," Loy said.
"Unfortunate that Jess Brookes couldn't make the day because that would have been her first ride in a race which probably would have been her first winner, too.
"I am just lucky for the opportunities I am getting and making the best of them."
Loy won his fourth of the day with a pick-up ride on Della's Diamond after fellow apprentice Brookes was unable to make her first-ever race ride due to illness.
Loy urged the Jarrod Austin-trained mare to the lead before kicking away at the top of the straight and holding the fast-finishing Shalimar Choice by half-a-length, with Rhatigan and unlucky third after botching the start.
"He is very good, Brodie. He has actually ridden this horse a couple of times for us a few weeks back but he is in sensational form [on Saturday]," Austin said.
"From the barrier we thought we had to go forward. We were hoping to get something to follow but it didn't pan out that way. He did well."
The win was Loy's third in a row after he guided Rightoncue and Brilliant Meteor to victory.
His ride on Brilliant Meteor was close to the ride of the day when he was caught on the rails at the rear of the field.
After making up some cheap ground on the fence, Loy waited patiently for an out in the straight and punched through at the furlong mark to defeat Bloodbuzz Ohio and Dessert Lyf.
"I was probably just a bit lucky," Loy said. "I thought coming to the turn, Jay [riding Cumberland Range] started to roll out and thought I might be able to sneak up inside. When I started to sneak he rolled back in and I had to just wait.
"Lucky there was a gap to take - just - and I edged my way out. I was very lucky.
"It is probably a horse which will go to the paddock now and come back an even nicer galloper."