Sheldon Geyer
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Australian jockey Sheldon Geyer had one season riding in Britain, in 1966, notching eleven winners from 108 mounts, all bar three of them for Compton, Berkshire trainer Ken Cundell, with whom he was based.
Australian jockey Sheldon Geyer had one season riding in Britain, in 1966, notching eleven winners from 108 mounts, all bar three of them for Compton, Berkshire trainer Ken Cundell, with whom he was based.
A native of Perth, Western Australia, Sheldon Earl Geyer was apprenticed to Eric O’Malley when aged 14. He rode his first winner at Helena Vale racecourse in Perth two years later.
A native of Perth, Western Australia, Sheldon Earl Geyer was apprenticed to Eric O’Malley when aged 14. He rode his first winner at Helena Vale racecourse in Perth two years later.
He got off the mark on just his second mount in England, making all on two-year-old Tea Set, owned and trained by Bill Holden, in the Knightwick Auction Maiden Plate at Worcester on April 30, 1966.
He got off the mark on just his second mount in England, making all on two-year-old Tea Set, owned and trained by Bill Holden, in the Knightwick Auction Maiden Plate at Worcester on April 30, 1966.
His second winner – his first for Ken Cundell – was Solensier in the Jock Scott Handicap at Windsor on May 23; his third on Backgammon in the Esher Place Handicap on Sandown’s Whit Monday card.
His second winner – his first for Ken Cundell – was Solensier in the Jock Scott Handicap at Windsor on May 23; his third on Backgammon in the Esher Place Handicap on Sandown’s Whit Monday card.
He rode three more winners in June, including two on Peter Payne-Gallwey’s sprinter Willipeg at Lingfield Park and Warwick . His other winner that month was a Ken Cundell-trained four-year-old filly named Flight at Worcester.
He rode three more winners in June, including two on Peter Payne-Gallwey’s sprinter Willipeg at Lingfield Park and Warwick . His other winner that month was a Ken Cundell-trained four-year-old filly named Flight at Worcester.
His sole success in July was in a Bath maiden on the intriguingly-named Gilbert the Filbert. In August he won a Windsor nursery on Lancastrian Rose, followed by victory on Moon Storm in the £1,000 Telscombe Handicap at Brighton. Three days later he won on Flight for a second time.
His sole success in July was in a Bath maiden on the intriguingly-named Gilbert the Filbert. In August he won a Windsor nursery on Lancastrian Rose, followed by victory on Moon Storm in the £1,000 Telscombe Handicap at Brighton. Three days later he won on Flight for a second time.
Sheldon’s last winner in Britain was also on Flight, in the £1,000 Stonehill Handicap at Goodwood on September 13.
Sheldon’s last winner in Britain was also on Flight, in the £1,000 Stonehill Handicap at Goodwood on September 13.
Before the season ended, he was on another type of flight, one bound for Australia. Despite having had a relatively successful time here, he never returned.
Before the season ended, he was on another type of flight, one bound for Australia. Despite having had a relatively successful time here, he never returned.
Sheldon Geyer’s 11 winners were as follows:
Sheldon Geyer’s 11 winners were as follows:
1. Tea Set, Worcester, April 30, 1966
1. Tea Set, Worcester, April 30, 1966
2. Solensier, Windsor, May 23, 1966
2. Solensier, Windsor, May 23, 1966
3. Backgammon, Sandown Park, May 30, 1966
3. Backgammon, Sandown Park, May 30, 1966
4. Williepeg, Lingfield Park, June 3, 1966
4. Williepeg, Lingfield Park, June 3, 1966
5. Flight, Worcester, June 25, 1966
5. Flight, Worcester, June 25, 1966
6. Williepeg, Warwick, June 27, 1966
6. Williepeg, Warwick, June 27, 1966
7. Gilbert the Filbert, Bath, July 20, 1966
7. Gilbert the Filbert, Bath, July 20, 1966
8. Lancastrian Rose, Windsor, August 16, 1966
8. Lancastrian Rose, Windsor, August 16, 1966
9. Moon Storm, Brighton, August 24, 1966
9. Moon Storm, Brighton, August 24, 1966
10. Flight, Bath, August 27, 1966
10. Flight, Bath, August 27, 1966
11. Flight, Goodwood, September 13, 1966
11. Flight, Goodwood, September 13, 1966
Sheldon Geyer died on November 1, 2011
Sheldon Geyer died on November 1, 2011