Aust cricketers’ horse makes winning debut
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10 Nov Aust cricketers’ horse makes winning debut

Posted at 07:18h in Racing by

A horse bought by a group of Australian cricketers to honour late teammate Phillip Hughes has won on debut.

Never Out (Star Witness x Jesterchine), trained by Kim Waugh whose husband Mark played 128 Tests for Australia and is now a national selector, won a 1000m maiden at Gosford on Wednesday.

The three-year-old filly’s ownership includes Mitch and Shaun Marsh who played in Australia’s recent defeat by South Africa in the first Test in Perth, as well as white-ball specialists Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch.

Former Test players Greg Blewett and Ryan Harris also have a share along with national coach Darren Lehmann’s wife Andrea and broadcaster Alan Jones.

The horse was named Never Out as a tribute to Hughes who died after he was hit by a ball while 63 not out in a Sheffield Shield match in November 2014.

“We bought the horse in memory of Phillip Hughes,” Mark Waugh told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“We got together to all buy a horse because he used to love horse racing so she might have had a bit of help today.

“I just spoke to Darren Lehmann when she went across the line so it was a good win.”

Waugh said Never Out had shown promise as a juvenile but a setback had delayed the start of her career.

“She had a bad accident in the paddock. She lost half her foot at one stage so that’s why she’s been in and out for so long,” Waugh said.

“She’s out of a fast mare so I think she’s got more to come.”

A $57,500 Inglis Classic purchase from the draft of Amarina Farm, Never Out is the fifth winner from stakes-placed Rory’s Jester mare Jesterchine.

-AAP