Nashville back on song
KATE Cowan might be a late starter but she is quickly making up for lost time.
The Central Districts apprentice claimed her first feature victory in style with a blistering two and a quarter length win aboard ageless warrior Nashville at Riccarton yesterday.
The Group III eStar Winter Cup victory, that had to be seen to be believed, was the first for Cowan at either Group of Listed level and just the tenth win of her career.
Twenty four-year old Cowan only rode her first winner back in March.
‘‘To say that I would have been riding in the Winter Cup two years ago, nobody would have believed it and I would have never thought it was possible either so to win it is very special,’’ Cowan said.
Many apprentices begin their careers in their mid-teens but ironically Cowan believes her late start was an asset.
‘‘I don’t think I would have been able to do it when I was younger. It’s mentally very hard and you need to be very focused and I don’t think I would have been able to cope with it mentally.’’
The first person to congratulate Cowan was her father Snooky Cowan who was looking after Nashville for Hunterville trainers Adrian and Harry Bull.
Cowan, a Group I winning trainer and former top jumps jockey, described watching his daughter win the Winter Cup as ‘‘a very proud day’’.
His presence was the icing on the cake for his daughter.
‘‘That was really special, he’s been very supportive,’’ she said.
Nashville’s weight carrying effort was not a Winter Cup record but it was worthy of being a history making moment.
The nine-year-old Darci Brahma gelding was at his blistering best when he stormed home from back in the field with a mind-blowing burst of speed to win with ease.
The 60kg Nashville carried to victory was the second highest since the introduction of metrics. The record is held by Shifnal Chief who lumped 62.5kg to victory in 1976.
‘‘He had a big weight to carry today but he definitely didn’t feel like he had 60kg on his back,’’ Cowan said.
‘‘It felt like he was flying. It was just an amazing feeling.’’
Nashville’s 13th win of his career took his stake earnings to a tick over $942,000.
Doiknowyou and New York Minute filled the minor placings to make for an all North Island trifecta.
Cowan settled Nashville in the last three on the rail for most of the race.
She was further back than she had planned but always knew she had the horse under her to get the job done.
Cowan, who was riding at Riccarton for just the second time, was quick to pay credit to record breaking jockey turned Apprentice Jockey Mentor David Walsh.
‘‘He walked the whole track with me – not just the straight – and he was so helpful.’’