The racing rollercoaster once again directly focused on apprentice Jake Noonan at Caulfield on Saturday.
Noonan combined with his father Tony for an emotional win with Our Spirits Bay in the $70,000 Catanach’s Jeweller’s Plate (1200m).
It was their first win together since Jake returned from a fall that threatened his career.
He fell from Safe at Flemington in early May and injuries kept him from the saddle for the next five months.
The Noonans embraced warmly after their Kiwi import scored narrowly.
“That’s the first winner we’ve had together since he had the fall so it’s been a hard road,” Tony Noonan said.
“It’s just good to be in the winners’ circle.
“It wasn’t a good day (when he fell).
“These sort of days make you remember what it’s all about.”
Noonan Jnr was equally as thrilled.
“It wasn’t the biggest race I’ve won, but it definitely brought me the biggest thrill,” he said.
“To have someone supporting me like dad, as a master, and the crew back at home, they’ve just been so supportive thoughout my time.
“Even before the incident, and I just couldn’t be more appreciative towards everyone at the stables and dad.”
Noonan Snr has had his dramas as well in the past 12 months being the former trainer of Ortensia.
Noonan Jnr has been back riding for a short time and notched up a winning double at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
He made it another double at Caulfield yesterday when Alpha Proxima won the last race, the $70,000 Engagepeople Hcp (1400m), for trainer Leon Corstens.
But it was the Racing Victoria stewards who had the last say.
The apprentice pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge aboard Alpha Proxima.
He permitted his mount to shift out inside the 100m when not clear of Bolton.
It resulted in Bolton being taken out towards Orbit Express and then inside the 50m Bolton had to be checked.
Noonan Jnr was suspended for 11 meetings to commence at midnight December 6 and to expire at the conclusion of the day meeting on December 16.
Two other apprentices suffered the same penalty as Noonan.
Both Kate Mallyon and Ben Knobel pleaed guilty to the same charge and were outed for the same period after rides in the WAFEX Sovereign Hcp (1400m),
Knobel pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding on Buzzing Along.
He permitted it to shift in when not clear of Born This Way near the 1100m resulting in that horse having to take hold to avoid his heels
Mallyon permitted her mount Florets to shift out approaching the 150m when not fully clear of Suite Success.
It was taken out to the running of Mabsam, resulting in Suite Success being checked.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | OUR SPIRITS BAY (NZ) | Tony Noonan | Jake Noonan (a1.5) | 1 | 54.5kg (cd 53kg) | $12 | |
| 2 | 3 | INABLITZ | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 0.1L | 10 | 57.5kg | $5EF |
| 3 | 8 | MISS MATARI | Kevin Milham | Ms Lisa Cropp | 0.4L | 7 | 54.5kg | $31 |
| 4 | 2 | AVIONICS | Robbie Griffiths | Ashley Thompson (a3) | 0.6L | 3 | 58.5kg (cd 55.5kg) | $5EF |
| 5 | 10 | MISS ELVEE | Robbie Griffiths | Ms Michelle Payne | 0.7L | 2 | 53kg | $6 |
| 6 | 7 | ZEFTABAA | Dale Sutton | Stephen Baster | 1.45L | 8 | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 7 | 1 | PSYCHOLOGIST | Tony Vasil | Jordan Mallyon (a2) | 2.2L | 5 | 59kg (cd 57kg) | $8.50 |
| 8 | 6 | PAPARAZZI DREAMER (NZ) | Peter G Moody | Ms Linda Meech | 2.3L | 9 | 55kg | $9 |
| 9 | 11 | LADY LA BEND | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane (a1.5) | 4.3L | 4 | 53kg (cd 52kg) | $31 |
| 10 | 4 | BEL SHOES | Steve Richards | Ms Katelyn Mallyon (a3) | 10.3L | 6 | 56kg (cd 53kg) | $13 |
| 13 | TERPSICHORE | Andrew Noblet | Chris Symons | 0 | ||||
| 12 | VINTAGE TRIUMPH | David Hayes | Dean Yendall | 0 | ||||
| 5 | FABULIST (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Dwayne Dunn | 0 |
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | ALPHA PROXIMA | Leon Corstens | Jake Noonan (a1.5) | 3 | 53kg | $17 | |
| 2 | 2 | SHADOWFAX (NZ) | Mark Kavanagh | Michael Rodd | 0.2L | 12 | 58kg | $3.70F |
| 3 | 15e | SCAREDYMAC | Jarrod McLean | Dean Yendall | 0.4L | 2 | 53kg | $14 |
| 4 | 14 | SNOW COVER | Jim Mason | Chris Symons | 1.4L | 5 | 53kg | $8.50 |
| 5 | 9 | CONQUERING JOURNEY | Peter G Moody | Ms Linda Meech | 1.5L | 7 | 53kg | $10 |
| 6 | 16e | BOLTON (NZ) | Stephen Brown | Stephen Baster | 1.7L | 1 | 53kg | $8 |
| 7 | 1 | ORBIT EXPRESS | Steve McKinnon | Ms Katelyn Mallyon (a3) | 2.95L | 4 | 59kg (cd 56kg) | $5 |
| 8 | 6 | HANKS | Peter G Moody | Dwayne Dunn | 3.45L | 11 | 54.5kg | $20 |
| 9 | 13 | DASH FOR VIZ | Robbie Griffiths | Peter Mertens | 4.7L | 6 | 53kg | $13 |
| 10 | 5 | NINE TALES | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 5.45L | 10 | 55kg | $21 |
| 11 | 10 | PORT VELL (NZ) | Colin Little | Jordan Mallyon (a2) | 7.7L | 8 | 53kg (cd 51kg) | $21 |
| 12 | 3 | CANNONBALL (USA) | Pat Carey | Steven King | 11.95L | 9 | 56.5kg | $61 |
| 8 | OVERTAKE | Luke Oliver | Dean Yendall | 0 | ||||
| 4 | JUNGLE RULER | Peter White | Jarrod Todd | 0 | ||||
| 11 | UNDER THE HAT | John Sadler | Jake Noonan (a1.5) | 0 | ||||
| 7 | AT THE HEADS (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Damian Lane (a1.5) | 0 |
