Happy Overall about northern move

By Jordan Gerrans

With five city winners already on his resume, newcomer to North Queensland Lachlan Overall feels his riding claim presents ‘value’ to trainers during his loan stint in the Sunshine State.

The 23-year-old took his first Queensland rides at Charters Towers on Saturday – picking up a winner at the club’s return meeting – and has another booking at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Overall was indentured to Mick Kent in Melbourne and has gone on loan to Sarah Acornley in Townsville for a three-month period.

With his opportunities slowing down in Victoria, Overall felt a northern move was a smart one at this stage of his career to get consistent race rides, get really fit and move through his country claim.

He has collected three metropolitan victories in Melbourne and two in South Australia since debuting back in 2022.

Overall claims two kilograms on the provincial and country circuit. 

“I feel like I provide a lot of value as well with the claim,” Overall said.

“I have ridden five city winners so I feel like with a two-kilogram claim in the bush, you are getting a bit of value there. I have ridden plenty of winners at provincial tracks in Victoria.

“I am in a good position where I can still take a couple of kilograms of and I have some good experience, learning from some good jockeys down in Victoria. There should be good value there with the claim.”

Overall follows fellow Kent apprentice Kiran Quilty with a northern move in recent times.

Quilty went on loan to Cluden Park trainer Georgie Holt early last year and hit the ground running in NQ.

She was hurt in a race fall in the middle of May at Townsville and has not ridden in a race since.

Quilty is on the recovery path and Overall reports she was making progress at Kent’s Victorian barn riding some track work in the weeks before he headed north.

As Quilty rode four quick winners before she was hurt, the Kent team felt Overall would also find success on loan.

“She is with Mick Kent as well and came up and did the same thing,” the young hoop said of Quilty.

“Kiran suggested it to me herself and said she liked it and enjoyed her time here. So I thought it would be a good move.”

Overall has been with the Acornley stable for the past week.

Acornley prepares her team of gallopers alongside her husband Carl Spry, who is an experienced jockey in NQ.

Spry has recently taken on a Casual Regional Education Support Officer role with Racing Queensland.

Spry helped organise Overall his book of rides at Towers Jockey Club on Saturday.

He had four on the sand surface and saluted at his second ride at the venue aboard Dollson for Steven Royes in the Ratings Band 0 – 60 Handicap over 1200 metres.

It was Overall’s first winner since the middle of July last year at Morphettville on a city Saturday in South Australia.

“It was just good to ride a winner because I haven’t ridden a winner for a while now,” the former Victorian jockey said.

“Carl organised the rides for me a week ago with Steve, so I knew those rides were coming up and I picked up a couple more as well.

“It was good to get a winner and kick-off early. Hopefully I can keep stepping up from that.”

Overall hails from Victoria and has also spent time living and working in SA as well.

He is hopeful he can keep the ball rolling forward on Tuesday in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200 metres aboard Stick To Your Guns for Lindsay Hatch.

The Capitalist gelding has not been with Hatch for long and put in a smart trial at Cluden Park late last month ahead of his first outing in NQ.

“Hopefully we can have some luck there as well, the one for Hatch looks good,” Overall said.

“It looks alright and is first-up for them. Hopefully it can put in a nice run. I rode the horse the other day in the morning so it was good to get a feel for him.”

Racing Queensland Industry Educator Jeff McKay thinks Overall will be an asset to the NQ riding ranks. 

"He is a heavier lad but his weight should start to come down while he is in North Queensland," McKay said.

"He is a talented rider.

"Lachlan will get all the right help and he hit the ground running with a winner at Charters Towers on Saturday."

Cluden Park will host International Women's Day 2024 festivities on Tuesday.

Top Brisbane rider Samantha Collett will share insights from her journey and experiences in the racing world as part of special function in the Raceview Room.

All ticket proceeds from the event will be donated to Mater Chicks in Pink to further their work supporting women with breast cancer.

Click here for more information on Cluden Park’s International Women’s Day festivities.