WELL-travelled jockey Mikayla Weir, fresh from winning on Callie Cool at Quirindi on Boxing Day and riding engagements at Orange on Monday, heads to Inverell Jockey Club’s big cup meeting today with five strong rides.

Weir rides Rapid Outlaw in the 1600m Stewarts Grain BM-66 Handicap for Armidale trainer Stirling Osland, as well as Rethink It in the 1400m RL Moses Memorial Handicap for Glen Innes trainer Terry Vidler.

“Rapid Outlaw ran really well at his first start for Stirling but the race was too short,” Weir said. “Stepping up to the mile will suit him, and I just hope there is good speed on.”

Rethink It finished second at Armidale and Grafton before a luckless ninth at Armidale behind in-form Power Beau on December 8.

“Her last start was a bit of a ‘forget’ run,” Weir said.

“I didn’t have much luck and she is suited better at 1400m from a good draw.”

Weir rounds out the meeting on Brett Cavanough’s Choice Witness in the 1200m Eshman Kelpie Stud Class 3 Handicap.

Mikayla Weir will start 2025 with five good rides at today’s Inverell Cup meeting.

The mare, a last-start fifth at Scone, carries 55kg from barrier six.

“She ran really well first up and drops four kilos in weight,” Weir said.

“We’ve drawn in the middle so we’ll let the speed go and hopefully get a nice run to finish over the top of them.”

Weir also rides comeback galloper Hyland Bay for local trainer Wayne Oakenfull in the 1050m Inverell Ford Inverell Shorts Handicap, a race she won three years ago on Cassy’s Sister for Troy O’Neile.

Oakenfull last won the historic sprint in 2010 with Runaway Shadow.

The trainer, who scratched Weir’s mount, Satay Chicken, from today’s 1400m Tatts Hotel Great Northern Inverell Cup, said Hyland Bay has recovered from serious illness that sidelined the seven-year-old for nearly 12 months

“He had pneumonia and was very crook, and that’s why he was a long time out,” Oakenfull said.

“The 1000 metres will be way too short for him – they’ll burn him off – but in saying that, he’s done a treat and looks well.”

Oakenfull also starts Stillwell in the 1050m Campbells Fuel BM-58 Handicap – a Mikayla Weir mount – and Shut Eye, with Ben Looker up, in the 1200m Eshman Kelpie Stud Class 3 Handicap.

Stillwell was purchased by Oakenfull in early 2023, and the trainer has given the five-year-old plenty of time.

“He went straight to the spelling paddock for four or five months. When we brought him back, he had a couple of runs, and we spelled him again,” Oakenfull said.

“That’s done him the world of good, but he’s more of a 1400m horse.”

Oakenfull, who won the Inverell Cup with Renegade in 2022 and Zaidin in 2023, said Shut Eye was on-song but might find 1200m too short.

“Everything looks very good with him,” Oakenfull said.

“He’s got barrier three, Ben Looker on top with a nice weight, and the horse is really well.

“The 1200 metres is really not his go – it would be better if the race was 1400m – but he’ll go well,” he said.

Inverell Cup meeting selections:

Race 1: Bracket Leica Model (2) and Flying Banjo (3) in a tricky race to start the day.

Race 2: This looks a nice race for Takeover Lad (8) from the in-form Wayne Brown yard. Cresta Run (10) the obvious danger, with Hefty Price (3) good each-way value.

Race 3: Ridge Wilson’s Electric Evie (3) looks well-placed on her home track from barrier one with Les Tilley on board. Looks a good anchor for multi players.

Race 4: Bracket Perfectly Frosted (1) and Ronny Bee (2) in a very hard race.

Race 5: Brett Cavanough’s Water Lad (6) is drawn to get the gun run from gate one and stablemate Antisocial (7) is a model of consistency.

Race 6: Jacob Perrett’s Wiggles (6) gets the nod here. The lightly-raced seven-year-old performs well first-up and is a winner at the track and distance. Ran very well in tough Highway Handicaps at Rosehill last preparation over longer trips. Will be in this for a long way. Stirling Osland’s Buffet Buster (2) can run a big race at double-figure odds.

Race 7: A wide-open Inverell Cup with many chances. Jacob Perret’s Mystery Lad (7) is in the race up to its ears and there’s no reason last year’s winner Cassia Lane (9) can’t make it back-to-back cups. She’s huge value at $26. Pat Webster’s pair, Office Jim (2) and Skywolf (5), have strong credentials but have both drawn awkwardly. Emergency Sensational Reward (15) gets a run and drawn to lead. Will give plenty of cheek out in front and worth including in multis.

Race 8: Wayne Oakenfull’s Shut Eye (5) is great each-way value. Will ping the gates from barrier three and be in the hunt for a long way. Ridge Wilson’s Purple Esprit (12) is on the rise and looks the one to beat. Choice Witness (9) will be getting home hard and topweight Power Beau (1) chases a hat-track but has drawn off the track.

Best: Electric Evie (R3) and Wiggles (R6).

Each-Way: Shut Eye (R8).

Quaddie

Leg 1: 3-6-7-14

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 2-5-7-9-15

Leg 4: 1-5-9-12

($40 equals 50 per cent)

Words and Image: Bill Poulos