After a debut win for trainer Dion Luciani at Northam, former New South Wales galloper Kervette kept her unbeaten WA record intact when she swept home with a strong victory in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1650m) at Belmont on Wednesday.
Kervette’s victory capped a standout day in the saddle for rising apprentice, Chanel Cooper who claimed her first ever riding treble after booting home Military Power for trainer Jim Taylor before giving Luciani the first leg of a double aboard Cleanemup.
Kervette shared equal favouritism with Decision Maker and after she was hooked to the outside by Cooper, she produced a strong finishing burst from ninth on the corner to score by a half-length from Barecove Rock with Worcester holding down third.
Cooper, indentured to former top jockey and two-time Leading Apprentice, Alana Williams and her partner, Grant Williams, recently made the ascension to Saturday metropolitan racing and a city treble further underlined her growing stocks as a 3kg claiming apprentice.
Luciani, a successful junior rider in his own right before turning his hand to training, says with her talent, attitude and support, Cooper has a bright future in the saddle.
“Chanel’s got everything going for her,” Luciani said.
“A good young girl and obviously has a very good mentor, Alana and is with a very good and strong stable.
“She’s a real likeable kid and that’s half the battle in the industry.
“There is no reason why she won’t go a very long way.”
Cooper emerged from the meeting well satisfied with her performance; confident her contributions had hit the mark.
“It was really good and I couldn’t be happier, Cooper said.
Although she’s looked more than comfortable in the saddle from the outset, racing was a new frontier for Cooper before teaming up with the powerful Williams stable.
Reluctant to pursue a career as a jockey at first, Cooper spent her junior years at pony club before eventually finding her stride in racing.
Cooper’s introduction to the Williams set up came through jockey Jett Stanley, who helped secure her a job at their stables and opened the door to her racing journey.
With just one meeting remaining before the curtain falls on the 2024-25 racing season, Cooper has tallied 37 winners-22 at provincial tracks, 13 in the city and two in the country.
Meanwhile, Luciani thinks there are more wins in store for Kervette, a four-year-old mare who is loving her new environment and racing life in the west.
“She seems to have found a new lease on life going the opposite direction,” Luciani said.
“Hopefully she can continue her winning ways.”
Julio Santarelli