Pair on verge of 1000 club
Two veteran jockeys approaching a major achievement are downplaying their impending milestone moments.
Robbie Hannam and Terry Moseley are on the verge of joining the prestigious club to have ridden 1000 winners on New Zealand soil.
Only 30 Kiwi jockeys’ have reached the four figure mark. To have two within three victories at the same time is rare.
Heading into the weekend’s racing, the Canterbury-based Moseley sits on 998 career wins with eight rides on Saturday.
Hannam is one behind on 997, but has just one ride at Te Rapa on Saturday and four at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
Moseley has no interest in speculating on the possibility of getting the winning double at Wingatui, instead focusing on winning every race.
On paper, Moseley looks to have two strong chances with Zigwig in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and Riding Shotgun ($3) in the open 1200m.
Bookmakers have Zigwig as a $6.50 chance, from a handy barrier draw of three, but with Starvoia ($2.90) and Raise You Ten ($4.20) in the race, nothing will come easy.
Moseley rides blowout chance Meursault ($23) in the Group III White Robe Lodge Mile.
‘‘It happens when it happens,’’ Moseley said of the milestone.
The Awapuni-based Hannam agrees with Moseley on not over thinking the four figure mark.
‘‘It’s inevitable, we’ll both get it, touch wood,’’ Hannam said.
‘‘If Terry gets it before me, that’s all well and good and if he doesn’t well all the better for me,’’ he quipped.
Moseley believes the milestone is more achievable in the modern but it is still something he will cherish.
‘‘It will definitely mean a lot to me,’’ he said.
Hannam said he was not hunting down the milestone down and has put more of a priority on trying to secure quality rides in the major races.
‘‘It will be a great achievement and it’s something to be very proud of but it is just a number and I still think winning the big races like Group I’s is the pinnacle of the sport.
‘‘Don’t get me wrong, it will be a fantastic achievement and it is something I’m looking forward to but I haven’t really been chasing it,’’ Hannam said.
He first took notice of the milestone last season.
‘‘When you’re 100 away, it’s not even in the equation, you are not even thinking about it and even 50 away seems a long way off but when you get down to the last 10 you’re getting pretty close aren’t you?’’
Hannam’s sole ride at Te Rapa will be aboard longshot Keeping Tom in the last race of the day.
He initially chose Te Rapa over rides at Wingatui so he could ride the Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Express but she was scratched.