Apprentice looks to mark mentor’s memory on Either Oar

Gwenda Markwell had a passion for developing young jockeys and an eye for a good horse, so she would be delighted to see her former apprentice Jess Del Frari riding Either Oar at Randwick on Saturday.

Before Markwell died from cancer 15 months ago, she had earmarked Either Oar as a potential stakes performer after Del Frari won on her at Kembla Grange.

“It is one to watch, Either Oar; she could be the best in the stable,” Markwell declared.

A year on, Ross McConville, who took over Markwell’s horses, said Either Oar is one of the last links to her in the stable, making the mare special to all the staff.

“She always believed in this horse,” McConville said. “Either Oar had her problems along the way but she is a city winner and she has found her level.

“I would love to get a black-type placing with her because of what Gwenda said about her. We might try that after Saturday if she goes well.”

McConville feels Del Frari’s knowledge of the six-year-old mare and kind hands will bring the best out of her, as well as the benefit of her three-kilogram claim.

“We have always thought that we would like to claim on her because of her style of getting out and running in front,” McConville said.

“Jess knows her really well, and it is a real connection back to Gwenda because Jess learned to ride at the stable and, importantly, has won on Either Oar before.”

Del Frari, who is now apprenticed to Kerry Parker, hasn’t had many opportunities in town and sees Either Oar as a chance to pay tribute to her first mentor.

“I’d ridden for Gwenda since I was kid, before I was an apprentice. I had ponies when I was growing up and I was looking for a part-time job. I went to Gwenda’s stable and I didn’t leave until her passing,” she told Racing NSW.

“It’s a big opportunity for me, and it was nice of them to offer me the ride.”

Del Frari’s instructions will be simple: to take up the lead and rate Either Oar, which is a $6.50 chance, to have a kick at the end of the 1200m.

“I know the horse and she’s the kindest horse I can ask for in town,” she said. “I’ve known her since she walked into the stable as a filly. I’ve ridden her a lot of trackwork and she was one of Gwenda’s favourites.

“If I can get her to relax up near the front of the field and get her in a great rhythm, hopefully nobody annoys her. The more she’s left alone, the better she is.”

McConville is confident Either Oar can return to winning form at her third run from a spell after a win and a third this time in.

“We had her a little fresh first up and she was able to win, and then at her second run back, she didn’t like getting between horses,” he said. “From the barrier [two], she should be able to find the front again, and she is at her peak, so I expect she will be hard to run down.”

Torrens back out to his trip in Australia Day Cup

Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier knows he has to pick his mark with his stayer Torrens, and the Australia Day Cup tomorrow has been a target for a long time.

Torrens needs the 2400m to be at his best and gets his first opportunity to get back to that trip since December at Warwick Farm.

“We have targeted this race from a long way out, and we used the last run to just get his fitness up and he was pretty good,” Chevalier said. “He was in the best form of his career in the spring, and then we’ve had to wait for the right race to come around.

“The winner from last time [Naval College] looks a good horse, but we will be a lot better at 2400m and get to meet him better at the weights.”

Torrens has won three of seven runs at 2400m and has also won a Beauford and was runner-up in that race at Newcastle in November in record time over 2300m.

He followed the Newcastle effort by being a game third in the Christmas Cup three-quarters of a length behind Stockman.

Torrens’ unplaced runs at 2400m have in last year’s group 1 Metropolitian and at group 3 level.

“He is always competitive at this listed level and, although this race looks a little stronger than I thought it would be, he is ready to run well,” Chevalier said.

Torrens is a $13 chance in a market dominated by $1.70 favourite Naval College. The seven-year-old will have regular partner Jenny Duggan in the saddle.

“She is a very important part of our team because she knows him and he can be a quirky horse to ride,” Chevalier said. “He is going to very strong at the end, and if you are going to beat him you need to run the trip right out.”

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