Suspension forces leading jockey out of Perth Cup race, allows Black Caviar’s hoop to pick up big race ride

Billy Egan has been forced to forfeit his mount on Buckets Ridge in January 1’s $1 million Perth Cup (2400m) after sustaining a suspension and will instead be replaced by fellow Victorian hoop Luke Nolen.

Nolen, best known for his deeds guiding the Peter Moody-trained Black Caviar to 22 of her 25 unbeaten victories, has had 20 rides in WA across a career spanning almost three decades, resulting in two wins.

One of those successes was the WATC Derby aboard Moody’s Markus Maximus in 2009 when the race was rated a Group 1 event.

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Buckets Ridge is a $6 second fancy for the New Year’s Day clash behind Apulia, who firmed to $2.40 following the confirmed engagement of William Pike.

Buckets Ridge scored a handsome win in the G A Towton Cup (2200m) on December 6 and had been handled by Billy Egan at his most recent two starts in readiness for the rich race.

However, Egan pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding at Monday’s Wangaratta programme and was issued with a 14-meeting suspension, meaning he is sidelined from Perth Cup Day and cannot resume until January 14.

The Williams’ 2025 cup winner Hemlock Stone, who pulled up sore after his nine-length ninth in Saturday’s Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m), has been ruled out of a tilt at retaining his crown.

Meanwhile, mare Admiration Express was also removed from the Perth Cup mix on Tuesday and left 23 remaining hopefuls in nominations.

Her trainer, Jason Miller, still has Rocking Society in nominations, with that gelding ridden by Brad Rawiller at his last two.

He will instead by partnered in the cup by Brayden Gaerth, who has steered the five-year-old on three previous occasions for a placing each time.

+ Two veterans combined for a peculiar triumph at Monday’s Pinjarra harness meeting when hobby trainer Ray Woodley prepared rising 10-year-old In My Own Time to win on debut.

Also bred and owned by the 66-year-old Waroona trainer, Toby Lynn shot the mare straight to the front and the pair never looked like losing, beating Danger by 2.5m.

The aptly named In My Own Time is the only foal from broodmare Mazeltov, who finished second in the 2010 Group 1 2yo WA Sales Classic behind Artemis Belle.

“When we broke her in, she showed heaps of ability,” Woodley said.

“But I’m old school and not a two-year-old racing fan and wanted to bring her back as a three or four-year-old.

“With work commitments and being out of the game for a couple of years, that never happened.

“She’d picked up some bad habits and at the end of October, I said to Toby, we’ll call it quits.

“He said, ‘just hang in there, she’s getting better’ and the light bulb came on.

“It wasn’t the name I originally had wanted but considering the problems and her defiance, it made sense.”