Racing stars take to different turf

Damien Oliver will captain the jockeys team in the annual charity match, this year aiding wildlife.

Some of the stars of Australian racing will be on show in the eighth annual National Jockeys’ Trust cricket match, which is raising funds for wildlife and livestock injured in the bushfires.

The NJT T20 will be held at Williamstown Oval on Monday from 1pm, with Damien Oliver to captain the Jockeys’ Team against a Racing All-Stars side.

The match is usually one of the major fundraisers for the NJT which provides assistance for jockeys and their families in need, and last year raised more than $130,000.

This year the proceeds will go to Wildlife Victoria, WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation (NSW), Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (SA) and Wildlife Rescue Queensland to help with aid to wildlife and livestock affected by bushfires.

The Jockeys’ team features riders from around Australia including Western Australia’s premier rider William Pike, Sydney-based stars Nash Rawiller and Brenton Avdulla and last season’s Victorian premiership winner Linda Meech.

Mitch Goring and Josh Ledger, who both lost their fathers in race falls, are part of the Jockeys’ team.

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne and her brother Stevie are among the Racing All-Stars which include a number of racing media personalities, while former Australian cricketer Bryce McGain will captain the side.

Racing Victoria’s chief steward Robert Cram and RV’s Greg Carpenter will umpire, while popular 1992 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero will make an appearance.

Gates open at 12pm (AEDT) with admission free.

There is no race meeting in Victoria on Monday.