L'Imperator and Jordan Gainford winning Thursday's Steinman Hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Jordan Gainford returns home tomorrow following another successful American trip this week, as Hewick's jockey landed another Grade 1 Stateside success on the Archibald Kingsley-trained L'Imperator at Aqueduct on Thursday.
Gainford is best known for his association with the Shark Hanlon-trained 2022 American Grand National winner Hewick and, on Thursday. was helped by that association as he steered French-bred L'Imperator to land the inaugural running of the $150,000 Beverly R Steinman Hurdle.
The South Carolina-based Kingsley family had previously enjoyed Irish success as the trainer's daughter Taylor Kingsley steered a first winner for trainer Hanlon, at Tramore in 2022.
Gainford, who is attached to trainer Gordon Elliott and is currently in his off-season in Ireland, reports "I was meant to go to Spain (on holidays) but Shark Hanlon got the ball rolling about a month ago to get me the ride for Archibald Kingsley.
“It was a Grade 1 race in Aqueduct, New York and it was my first time riding there. It is a nice track, is quite sharp with two hurdles in the back straight and two in the home straight.
"The race was called off twice - the first time the horse was meant to run he got an abscess and then the race was called off last weekend due to rain. I thought I was doing too much in the race, but he picked up and I won by two lengths.
“It has worked out brilliantly and instead of Spain, I flew to Nashville to see it over the weekend and am home on Monday."
Quotes from Michael Graham
