Move to Cambridge pays off for former Wingatui jockey
RUAKAKA: An admirable mix of talent and hard graft were rewarded when Courtney Barnes successfully combined with leading filly Lickety Split at Ruakaka on Saturday.
The 28yearold jockey made the decision 12 months ago to leave Wingatui and head to Waikato to further her career, and dedication to the cause delivered her biggest result on Saturday.
Barnes regularly rides trackwork for Lickety Split’s trainer, Andrew Forsman, and was rewarded with the mount on last season’s Group 1 Sistema Stakes winner in the Group 3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes over 1200m.
In a copybook display, she gave the filly a dream run in fourth spot to the turn before driving strongly to the line to claim top honours.
“It was awesome. I galloped her on the Thursday morning and she gave me a really good feel. I definitely thought she was very capable of winning the race,” she said.
“It panned out the way I hoped and she will take a lot of benefit from the race.”
Forsman has yet to decide on the next step for Lickety Split and Barnes remains understandably hopeful she may get another opportunity to partner the 3yrold.
“Fingers crossed, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” she said
Saturday’s result was Barnes’ seventh at stakes level and her second Group Three victory, having won the White Robe Lodge Stakes aboard Coulee in 2017.
“I moved to Cambridge a year ago and it’s taken a while to find my feet, but it’s definitely starting to pay off now,” she said.
“I ride a lot of trackwork for Andrew and Stephen Marsh and the opportunities are coming. I just want to ride as often as I can and ride as many winners as I can.”
Barnes served her apprenticeship with Coulee’s trainers, Brian and Shane Anderton, following a background in pony club, showjumping and eventing.
She began race riding in February 2012 and posted her first winner seven weeks later at her fifth ride aboard Cheap Date at Wingatui.
Barnes comes from a wellknown New Zealand racing family.
Her grandfather, Mick Didham, was a jockey as was his brother, Midge, who won the Melbourne Cup on Baghdad Note.
He also finished runnerup in the Flemington feature on Igloo and won an Auckland Cup, Wellington Cup and two Caulfield Cups.
Barnes will be hoping to continue her run of form at Taupo today with rides aboard the Marshtrained pair of Margaret Jean and Provence, having been aboard both in their leadup trials. — NZ Racing Desk