Ulladulla Gives Wood Dream City Debut


Ulladulla provided Brisbane’s newest city rider with the thrill of a lifetime when he scored a runaway win in the Glenlogan Park Handicap (1030m) at Doomben on Wednesday.

Mitchell Wood, 17, was riding on a city track for the first time and put up a polished display to guide the six-year-old to a class record three length success.

Prepared by his master Kelly Schweida, Ulladulla sat just off the speed, on the inside of runners, before coming with a burst under Wood to shoot to the wrong and race clear.

Wood, currently leading the Gold Coast apprentice premiership, was always destined to be a jockey having grown up in a well known racing family.

His father Mark, an important member of the Steele Ryan stable still holds a licence, while older brother Justin is also an apprentice. Justin won the third race on a memorable day for the family.

Ulladulla, a gelded son of Mossman, won a Wyong Magic Millions Classic as a three-year-old and has earned over $188,000.

Now a four time winner, he was purchased from the draft of Noble Park Stud for $85,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Ironically, the first race winner on the Doomben card, the heavily backed Imagery was bred and is raced by Peter and Wendy Moran of Noble Park Stud.

Meanwhile, the Patinack Farm success rolled on at Doomben when Accounting scored a brilliant win in the Mimiki Plate (1110m).

A Reavill Farm graduate from the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Accounting came from well back in the field to win under Chris Munce.

Accounting, by Danzero, will be set for stakes races during the upcoming Brisbane Winter Carnival according to stable foreman Toby Edmonds.

And Favours Traded ($40,000, National Weanling), a highly regarded galloper by Al Maher, impressed in the sixth event.

The Alan Bailey trained three-year-old cruised home under Glen Colless to win by two lengths.

PICS – Dan Costello.