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Travis Wolfgram gets first Sydney win on Boss Lane

9th Aug 2015

Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday, 8 August 2015

Queensland apprentice Travis Wolfgram has often thought about heading home in the past three months he has been in Sydney, but a change of master to former champion jockey Ron Quinton has made him reassess.

Quinton has become a great mentor of young jockeys and he is happy to give them chances. Wolfgram took his on Boss Lane, which proved too tough for Straturbo in a driving finish in the seventh at Randwick on Saturday.

"He has been down here with Gai [Waterhouse] for three months and did not really get the opportunities," Quinton said. "He has had two rides for me now, he ran third on the first and then won on that and he did exactly what he was told.

"It is a little harder for him because he only has the two-kilogram claim but he can ride. These boys just need opportunities, if he shows he is keen and listens he will get them."

Wolfgram had clear instructions from Quinton how to ride the sprinter from off the speed. "Ronnie just told me to wait until we got up the rise before going for him. He always travelled well and when I let him go he really let down," he said.

Wolfgram said having the benefit of Quinton's experience and knowledge had been great.

"I'm learning quite a bit from him. He rings me and goes through my rides with me and tells me things that are easy to understand. He is probably the best boss I have had for his understanding of riding," Wolfgram said.

Boss Lane went within 0.1 seconds of breaking the Randwick 1000m record but punters were left shaking their heads as $2.70 favourite Darciwood never got into the race.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes and jockey Tommy Berry had to explain the performance to stewards and it was clear his race was over when he was squeezed out at the start.

"He is a horse with a very short sprint and was chasing and at his top 600 and 700 metres out and had spent all his pennies before the straight," Berry said.

Hawkes added: "He would have had to be Bernborough to have won from where he was. It was over after two strides."

(Photo by Sportpix)