Austin Galati wins jockey of the year award as Geraldton Turf Club ends season

The Geraldton Turf Club wrapped up the 2023-24 season last week with the final race meeting after another successful campaign, with Austin Galati sealing jockey of the year honours.

The final meeting ran on Friday, May 10, with this year being extended further into May with less races in January to beat the heat.

Three of the four end-of-year awards had already been finalised before the final meeting, with just the jockey of the year gong still up for grabs.

Adam Durrant won trainer of the year, Gold Cup winner What A Prince was the horse of the year and Zephen Johnson-Porter claimed apprentice jockey of the year.

Galati and Troy Turner were in with a chance for jockey of the year, but Galati’s strong showings on Friday sealed him the win.

The jockey brought home a win in race four on Dark Mist and had a second-place run during race two on Arabian Riches, with the win going to Galaxy Affair.

Race three was the Skyracing.Tv Provincial Championship Heat, that held a prize pool of $31,000. It was won by pre-race favourite Blue Lagoon, paying $2.60 for the win.

The unexpected winners came out in races one and five, with the $12 Akai Akuma claiming a win in the first, and the $15 Sly As A Fox in the fifth.

Mocha Dream from Durrant’s stable took the win in race six, while Catch The Red Eye won by a length in the final to close out the season.

Results

Race 1: Akai Akuma (10), On The Mark (4), Devils I (3).

Race 2: Galaxy Affair (3), Arabian Riches (4), Savage One (1).

Race 3: Blue Lagoon (1), Fortune’s Luck (3), Hammarmill (2).

Race 4: Dark Mist (4), Sky View (5), Zera Blue (8).

Race 5: Sly As A Fox (8), Juruena Gold (6), Butterflyrock (5).

Race 6: Mocha Dream (1), Gorgeous Gus (3), Spirit Man (2).

Race 7: Catch The Red Eye (1), Sanabeau (5), Safe Hustle (2).