Congratulations

White Robe Lodge apprentice jockey, Jacob Lowry, who rode his first winner Valiant at Washdyke on Friday (10/10/2014), was born to ride racing thoroughbreds.

His father, two grandfathers and a great-grandfather were jockeys. Valiant is trained by one of his grandfathers, Brian Anderton, who won 393 races as a jockey on the flat flat and over fences. Jacob is apprenticed to his grandfather Brian.   Valiant is raced by breeders, Brian and Lorraine Anderton.

Lowry (16) was having his 38th race ride, the first on Valiant at Wyndham seven months ago. He is a son of Rodney and Lynne Lowry (daughter of Brian and Lorraine). Rodney was a jockey and his father, Eddie Lowry rode the grand stayer, Great Sensation in his first win at Wingatui in 1957 and five other wins. Eddie was later foreman for the Gore stable of Ted Winsloe.

Jacob's great-grandfather, Hector Anderton was also a successful jockey.

WR apprentice Courtney Barnes has been awarded a scholarship to work and ride for an Australian trainer for two weeks. The scholarships are awarded annually  by NZ Thoroughbred Racing. Barnes (20) has won 66  races in 2 and a half years of race riding. She won 33 races, including the Dunedin and Southland Guineas on Include, last season.

Shankar Muniandy and Toni Direen are other WR apprentices to have stints in Australian stables.

"Shankar went to Paul Perry in Sydney and he was lucky enough to get a ride at Randwick. Toni  missed out on the race riding when she went to Tony McEvoy in Adelaide last year as she had not ridden in a barrier trial there,'' said Brian.

Swiss Alps, an impressive winner for WR at his only start in June at Oamaru, has been entered for the Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton on Friday.