Myers, Fannin combination riding high
‘‘I owe everything to Kevin. He has made me.’’ leading jumps jockey Shaun Fannin
Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers and jumps jockey Shaun Fannin are one of the most potent trainerjockey combinations in Australasia at present.
Over the past 12 months, Fannin has ridden for Myers on 58 occasions, winning a remarkable 22 races, for a strike rate of one win for every 2.64 rides.
The partnership continued on its winning way at Ellerslie last Saturday, combining for prestige jumps race success in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup with Kick Back.
Fannin, 20, who lives at Myers’ property near Turakina, estimated that about 90 per cent of his rides were for Myers and said they had just clicked as a partnership.
‘‘I never expected this. I’ve always hoped to win some nice races but the success we’ve been having has been quite unreal,’’ Fannin said.
‘‘I owe everything to Kevin. He has made me. He’s the only reason why I’m where I am now. He works you hard and keeps you busy, but it just shows the more hard work you do, the more it pays off.’’
Myers has set a cracking pace in the race for premiership honours this season, with 16 wins already this month to lead the partnerships of Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs and Graeme and Debbie Rogerson by 11.
Fannin shares the lead in the jumps jockeys’ premiership with Aaron Kuru on four wins.
Myers and Fannin will bid to embellish their record when last Sunday’s Wanganui Steeplechase runner-up, Twentythirtyfour, contests the Kaiser Ag Steeplechase at Te Aroha on Sunday.
‘‘He went a good race the other day and he’ll be a good chance again this weekend.
‘‘He’ll make a good Northern horse next year,’’ Fannin said.
The Myers-fannin combination isn’t ruling out success in this year’s Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie on September 3 either, Fannin rating Kick Back a good chance of completing the Pakuranga Hunt Cupnorthern double.
‘‘We talked about that after I got home and Kevin asked me whether I thought she’d stay another lap.
‘‘I said ‘I can’t see any reason why she wouldn’t. The way she hit the line on Saturday, she’s still only going to get better,’’ Fannin said.