Skilord and Angela Jones set to strike again at Ipswich

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Mark Currie will head down the Toowoomba range with one runner at Ipswich on Wednesday and is hopeful of a victory with speedster Skilord.

The six-year-old Skilord has been in Currie’s care for only four of his 16 starts and will line-up in the Class 4 Handicap over 1100 metres.

Skilord - who will be ridden by emerging apprentice Angela Jones (pictured) - is a home bred and is by former Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace out of the unraced Strategic mare Almea.

Skilord did his early racing for Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill before being sold for $7,000.

He had only 12 starts for Hill with his best effort a maiden win at his second start at Ipswich in 2020.

“He’s a lovely big horse but the query is whether he’ll run 1100 metres in this class,” Currie said.

“But, he’s in good shape and should be competitive.

“He can be a bit of a handful to ride and didn’t have much confidence when I first got him."

Skilord finished sixth at Toowoomba in his first start for Currie in the middle of June.

He then put together two wins on the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast before a seven length demolition job in a ratings race at Toowoomba on July 30.

He then attempted to complete a hat-trick of wins in a Class 3 race over 1050 metres at Doomben on August 20.

However, after chasing the leader all the way, Skilord went down less than one length to finish fourth to the Matt Park-trained Be Water My Friend.

“He drew a wide gate at Doomben and peeled off too soon,” Currie said.

“The alley definitely cost him the run last start and it was more than three weeks between runs.”

Skilord will be reunited with talented apprentice Jones (pictured), who was successful on the gelding in his Toowoomba victory, and will need to overcome an awkward barrier of nine.

He is one of seven rides for the in-demand Jones on Wednesday.

She has two rides for her boss Tony Gollan as well as Stu Kendrick, Kacy Fogden, Annabel Neasham and the training partnership of Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted.

Jones has ridden five winners since the start of the new season. 

Her last winner was aboard the Bill Healey-trained Spillify at Ipswich on August 17.