Hammarquist lands four despite being laid low

Leading country trainer Graeme Hammarquist was laid low last Saturday, but still had one of his “best ever” days at the races.

Walkaway-based Hammarquist was in Perth having injections for a back injury, but landed four winners at the annual Gascoyne Junction meeting. He also had two seconds from the six-race card.

“Felt a little better after that,” Hammarquist said.

“I hurt my back a while ago and had to get some needles in Perth. I sent the horses up on Monday and my brother Don was in charge.

“I’ve had four winners in a day before at Landor, but it doesn’t happen too often.

“Reckon I could have had more, because I slipped up with jockeys.”

Jockeys are a big issue with Hammarquist and he wants Racing and Wagering WA to address how many meetings it fixtures on the same day.

“There were four meetings on Saturday, at Belmont, Newman, Gascoyne and Wyndham,” Hammarquist said.

“Four meetings in the one day doesn’t happen a lot in WA, but we haven’t the (number) of jockeys they have in the Eastern States.

“Some jockeys who were at Wyndham should have been somewhere else. I had to scratch five horses from the most recent Carnarvon meeting because of jockeys.”

Carnarvon is where Hammarquist — and most of his team — will be tomorrow when the club hosts a Father’s Day meeting.