Constructive start to Lizzie’s tassie adventure

Former SA apprentice makes the move south.

Former South Australian apprentice Lizzie Annells can build on the promising start to her Tasmanian career in Launceston on Wednesday night.

Annells is no stranger to Tasmanian racing audiences as a regular fly-in jockey over the last 12 months, but the move is now permanent after a transfer to the Broadmarsh base of trainer Sarah Cotton.

"I am on a three-month loan to begin with which is standard, but I have every intent to move here permanently," explained Annells who is approaching 100 Tasmanian career race rides.

Lizzie had a full book of rides last Wednesday in Launceston, returning a winner aboard the John Luttrell-trained Steel Mist, and says riding in Tasmania more frequently should help her tally of winners as she becomes more familiar with the racing product.

"Pretty much every horse I've been riding on race day I've been getting a sit on in trackwork.

"Now that I'm here more often I feel like I'm understanding the other riders and starting to make my mark."

Lizzie is engaged in five of the seven races on the third last night meeting of the season, with three strong winning chances for her new master.

4YO gelding Reconstructive was heavily supported on debut back in January 2022, but after racing wide, finished sixth of 14. He resumes in the opening race, a maiden over 1220m.

"They've chosen not to trial him this time and just got him nice and fit for the races.

"I'm happy with the gate (10), he's just a nice forward type of horse and if we can get up in the money that would be a really good result with him.

Lizzie's other two rides for Sarah Cotton are Conundrum in the R M Bertram Maiden (1620m) and Did You Decide in the Rod Thirkell-Johnston BM68 (1620m) with both horses towards the front of the betting market.

"I think the race maps nicely for Conundrum.

"Hopefully something can take us into the straight as he's still a bit green and I don't want to expose him too soon, but I think the mile will really suit," said Annells on the son of Hampton Court – Slight Dilemma who is having just his fourth career start despite being a 5YO.

Did You Decide hasn't missed a place in his five career starts and will look to extend that streak in the first leg of the night's quaddie.

"Gate 1 is probably not the best as he is a big horse, but I'll rely on the fact that he's well-experienced and he's got good form."


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