IRISH JOCKEYS DRAW BLANK DOWN UNDER Adelaide track Morphettville has been a lucky venue for Irish riders in the past but Saturday´s second stage of the Australia-Ireland jump series went pear-shaped from the start. Odds-on Frenzilian, winner of the Grand National Hurdle a fortnight previously and widely regarded as the best young jumper in South Australia, could only manage fifth place under Andrew Lynch in the first of the two hurdle races. A confirmed front runner he was taken on from the start by outsider Donor with Andrew Leigh pushing from the start. Lynch tried to take the favourite back to avoid the tussle but the pair both faded out eventually leaving Donor´s stable mate 7/1 chance Northwood a clear winner for the locals, winning by 5 lengths from Denis Hogan´s mount Silent Street.The Stewards held a prolonged enquiry into Leigh´s riding, told him 'to be careful' and took no action. Leigh afterwards said that he didn´t understand trainer Karen Byrnes´ instructions. 'The two Irish lads went mad in front' was the comment from one racegoer.In the next race Stuart Pateman beat Tom Logan by a neck for an Australian 1-2 with the Irish riders finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth, led by Denis Hogan on second favourite Toast to Lenny.The Australians changed the points system this year to an 8-7-6 scoring basis all the way down to1pt for an eighth finisher. But that has rather rebounded on the hosts, three winners so far but Ireland still lead 50 points to 42 with Melbourne beckoning next week.
