Walsh second in Australia The annual Irish-Australian Jockeys' Challenge began in Australia yesterday where Irish riders Katie Walsh and Shane Jackson filled the placings at Gawler Racecourse, in Adelaide. Walsh, riding Sallum (trained by Irishman John O'Connor and carrying colours familiar to Irish racegoers, the "white, stags head, red cap" of Raymond Keogh from Meath), was one length second to locally ridden favourite Mephistopheles, in the Grey Swallow Irish Challenge, the high weight invitational handicap and the first leg of the Australian v Ireland series. All four members of the Irish team rode in the race though, Alain Cawley finishing fourth with Nina Carberry beating just one home on the rank outsider of the field. However, there was a sting in the tail for Walsh who was given a warning by the local stewards after an incident on the final bend, afterwards saying "I wouldn't have been brought in at home, it was like a game of dominoes out there." The serious business over hurdles and fences commences at Morphettville on Saturday.
