Success no fluke for Cambridge agent

Excited Allpress back in business after shoulder injuries clearance I’ve missed out on some good rides so I’m absolutely chomping at the bit.

Two-time jockeys’ premiership winner Lisa Allpress is closing in on a return to riding.

She has been sidelined since suffering shoulder injuries in a jump-out fall at Hawera last October, but has now received a medical clearance to resume.

“The doctor said it’s time to start riding so I’ve been to the Wanganui track,” Allpress said.

“The most terrifying thing was thinking it could have been careerending and the fact that it was both arms injured, but I’m really excited now and I’m feeling good.

“I’m just looking to get my strength back up, my fitness and weight are pretty good. I’ve been doing a lot of running and bike riding.”

Allpress is planning to make her long-awaited return later this month.

“I’ve missed out on some good rides so I’m abso- Lisa Allpress lutely chomping at the bit,” she said. “I would have been riding Ladies First in the Auckland Cup and Scott Base in the Derby, but unfortunately he had to come out.” Known for her tireless work ethic, Allpress first won the national jockeys’ premiership in 2012 when she rode 159 winners and added a second title in 2016 with a tally of 171. — NZ Racing Desk. Phill Cataldo’s eye for young thoroughbred talent has again been emphasised by the emergence of Vin De Dance.

The Cambridge-based bloodstock agent was persistent in his pursuit of Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner when the gelding was initially offered at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale.

“He went through Jamie Beatson’s draft, he liked him as did Paul Pertab who did a lot of the early work preparing him for the sale, and I saw him at the breeze-ups and looked at him three or four times at Karaka,” Cataldo said.

“I said to OTI’s Terry Henderson that we should be getting him and bought him [for $70,000] half an hour after he was passed in.

“Luigi Muollo owned him and he retained a share and Terry syndicated the rest and 14 of the owners were at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“Luigi’s family and my family have been lifelong friends and I also buy horses for his brother Tony, who lives in Sydney.

“Vin De Dance is a typically big Kiwi stayer and I’ve always been a fan of Roc de Cambes, he was a great stayer himself and I think he’s an under-rated stallion.”

The three-year-old’s success gave trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman their second New Zealand Derby following Mongolian Khan’s triumph in 2016 and yet another significant addition to Cataldo’s CV.

“He’s my 22nd individual Group One winner, and they’ve won 28 Group One races, and my third New Zealand Derby winner,” he said.

“I bought Military Move [victorious in 2010] and Gingernuts as a weanling. To go back to back is a huge thrill and I’m really looking forward to Vin De Dance going on to Sydney for the Derby there.

“It was a great buzz at Ellerslie and I was also rapt for Jason Waddell, it’s a race he’s always wanted to win and it was a great ride.”

Waddell will ride Vin De Dance in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas ( 2000m) and the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). — NZ Racing Desk.