Melbourne Books Level 4a/178 Collins St, Melbourne 3000 Ph. (03) 9662 2550 Fax. (03) 9662 2571 email: [email protected] Greg Hall Tells All in his new book DETO WI RI N GREG HALL RIDE TOWIN with Rod Nicholson Greg Hall survived the ‘school of hard knocks’ to become one of ’s most successful jockeys. reg Hall did not see his But the good times were mingled Gmother for 12 years after his with bad. He copped the biggest father, the great jumps jockey Ron penalty in Australian racing history, Hall, stole him in the dead of night two months and $50, 000, in the 1996 when he was only two. He sold papers Golden Slipper. Worse, he twice was in front of the landmark Young & the victim of the booze. The first Jackson’s Hotel in Melbourne at 11 to almost cost his career when he was at feed himself, and roam the unsavoury his peak, the second coming after his area of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda at 12. wife left him. Hall overcame all the “He became one of the top three Hall then spent 7 years as an hurdles and today is a successful jockeys in Australia, in my opinion. apprentice, being shunted between media personality, motivational He had nerves of steel. As far as Melbourne, and Brisbane. speaker and professional tipster. He temperament is concerned he had no He rode his first Group 1 winner for manages Frankie Dettori when the peer, especially when the big money his father in 1978 at age 21 but champ comes to Australia. was on.” Mark Read returned to Melbourne to seek advice Hall was known as an enforcer in the “Greg Hall was daring in the from the great Roy Higgins to put saddle. He would always ride to win. extreme. He knew no fear and pushed polish on his style. Years later This is a great story of triumph everything to the limit to win.” Higgins rated Hall in the top 10 against the odds. jockeys he had ridden against. Brent Thomson Ride To Win is written by Greg Hall Hall rode for owner Mick Sayer, “...he was fearless, ruthless, and with Rod Nicholson, Chief Sports had a real killer instinct. He always the underworld figure who was Writer with the Melbourne Sunday gunned down after the Fine Cotton rode to win. ...he has won The Herald Sun. The Foreword is by leading , The Cox Plate, ‘ring-in’ affair. He was a stable world jockey, Frankie Dettori jockey for owner/punter/bookie Derbys and Golden Slippers and all the big ones in Australia...Greg has Mark Read and had a hand in “I rated Greg Hall one of the top been great for racing in Australia, Australia’s biggest plunge on Getting 10 jockeys I had ridden against and I’m sure he will continue to have Closer. He rode for Kerry Packer because he had an enormous will an impact in whatever he chooses to and Lloyd Williams and for all the to win, tremendous natural ability do in racing. Just so long as he top trainers including and a terrific killer instinct.” remains my manager when I come to and Tommy Smith. Roy Higgins Australia”. Frankie Dettori He did it all in the saddle, riding 49 “Anyone who had Greg as a rider Group 1 winners, 41 Group 2s, 43 was dealing from the top of the pack.” Ride To Win Group 3s and 73 Listed winners. He Angus Armanasco Paperback 240 pages was associated with some of the turf’s Includes 16 pages of colour photos greats - Mahogany, Super Impose, “I only get the top riders for my Released in April 2003 Subzero, Zeditave. He boasts the horses and Hall is among the best.” Available all good bookstores amazing record of winning the Tommy Smith RRP $27.95 incl gst Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and “Greg was a big race rider who Brisbane Cups; two Victoria and thrived on pressure. He sits up in the Contact Melbourne Books: two AJC Derbys; two Golden top four or five jockeys of the past 15 • to interview Greg Hall • for review copy Slippers and three Blue Diamonds years.” Lee Freedman as well as the Cox Plate. • for permission to extract