With the lock down decimating local sport there is one star on the horizon for Inverellians.
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There is a promising racehorse named after the town which might just be worth following over the spring racing carnival.
Racehorse "Inverell" had his first race start last week at Sale in country Victoria and scored an impressive win with champion jockey Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Inverell is sired by 2009 Melbourne Cup winner "Shocking" and was bred in New Zealand from a mare named Sapphire Lass, hence the Inverell connection.
Inverell was unwanted at the New Zealand yearling sales but showed early promise when contesting two barrier trials.
The youngster was then purchased by syndicators OTI Racing who have raced many imported stayers in Australia including the unlucky Bauer who finished second to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup.
The Clayon Douglas-trained three-year-old gelding, was a well-supported favourite at its first start and has been nominated for the major spring three year old races in Melbourne.
His sire being a Melbourne Cup winner, connections are hoping he develops into a stayer to contest the Victoria Derby at the end of next month.
If Inverell makes it to the Derby a new rider will need to be found. Winning jockey Jamie Kah, who this year became the first female jockey to ride over 100 metropolitan winners in season, was suspended for three months for breaching government and racing Covid restrictions in the days following Inverell's win. Kah, along with Ben Melham, Ethan Brown, apprentice Celine Gaudray and Mark Zahra were at an illegal party at Mornington last week.
The local flavour was continued when following Inverell's win at Sale the next race was won by a horse called "Goondiwindi".
Fittingly Goondiwindi is a grey but was bred in England and purchased at the English yearling sales by an Australian syndicate for 100,000 English Guineas.
Maybe the coincidences and winning form can continue and both Inverell and Goondiwindi giving us some entertainment do warn off the Covid blues.