Tarrant cements Brisbane premiership lead

By Mark Oberhardt

SUNSHINE COAST, Qld, Feb 18 AAP - Apprentice Luke Tarrant has wasted no time consolidating his lead in the Brisbane jockeys's premiership on his return from suspension.

Riding at his first metropolitan class meeting since January 17 on Wednesday at the Sunshine Coast, Tarrant took out the first race on Montana Star to move to 43 winners for the season, eight more than Jim Byrne.

"I had a freshen-up during the past month but it is good to get back," Tarrant said.

He was in great form before the suspension for whip offences, winning the Group Two Villiers at Randwick on Rudy in December and last month's $2 million Magic Millions Classic on Le Chef.

Tarrant will reunite with Rudy in the Liverpool City Cup at Warwick Farm on Saturday week on the way to the Group One Doncaster Mile on April 4.

The Sunshine Coast meeting was called off after the fifth race because of heavy rain but not before Whatalovelyday ($7) ploughed through the mud to win the Pump House Handicap (1400m).

Her trainer, former jockey Jon Walk, holds the record for riding the horse paying the biggest win dividend on the Queensland TAB. He rode Saints Alive who paid more than $480 in 1984.

Whatalovelyday was a $7 chance and left several well-backed runners in her wake including the favourite Asadauskaite ($2.50) who failed to handle the heavy track under 59kg.

"She is very honest and tries hard. She deserves all the wins she gets," Walk said.

Whatalovelyday has won two of her past three starts and is among the entries for the Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes at Randwick on April 11.