EMOTIONAL WOOD SCORES ON AFRICAN MAMA

Ferocity filly African Mama scored an emotional win for talented Brisbane apprentice Justin Wood in the first at Eagle Farm today.

Wood dedicated the victory to his close friend Stathi Katsidis, who tragically passed away this week. It was the apprentice’s first ride since the tragedy.

“I know the horse didnt get going really until the last 100 metres, but I knew it was going to win when we straightened,” Wood commented.

“It felt like I was riding with that bit extra – I’d never had so much to ride for before. It was obviously just meant to happen.”

Wood and his younger brother Mitchell were close friends with Katsidis and his partner Melissa Jackson.

“He’s been one of the biggest influences on my career right since I started riding,” Wood said.

“In fact even before I started riding he would sit down and help me out – give me advice.”

“Stathi was just one of the greatest people you’d ever meet. He was always there for you and he was a fun person to be around.”

“The aura he had around himself was at another level to everyone else.”

Wood stood down from riding yesterday at Mackay and was set to do the same this morning before having a change of heart.

“I wasn’t going to ride until about 8.30 this morning,” the apprentice revealed. “But I had a talk to a few people and decided I wanted to ride.”

“When I left the track this morning I told Steele (Ryan, his boss) that I wouldn’t be riding and he was about to get a replacement when I rang him back to tell him I would.”

“I went home after trackwork and had a bit of time to myself. I thought about what Stathi would do and what would he want.”

Wood showed composure behind his years in today’s race – the performance no doubt would have been given a big tick of approval from his long time mentor who was watching from above.

“I’m glad I decided to ride and to win the first race was a great thrill. It’s hard to exactly describe what it means – there were a lot of emotions running through me.”

Prepared by Noel Doyle, African Mama was purchased by part owner Andrew Farrow for just $21,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

African Mama is a daughter of Ferocity – a resident of Oaklands Stud who was a high class young galloper with wins including a Group Two Ascot Vale Stakes and a Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.

She is from the lightly raced and American placed Mt. Livermore mare Blushing Rose – a daughter of the stakes winning Be My Guest mare Cameo Performance.

That makes African Mama a half sister to the stakes winner Wild Heart and Merson Cooper Stakes placegetter Coraticum.

PICS – Dan Costello.