Allpress calls for stakes rise to assist jockeys
Lisa Allpress rode five winners at Oamaru in June and after expenses were taken out of her stake money percentages for the day, she had $200 left.
The Whanganui rider will be crowned New Zealand’s top jockey for the 2015-16 season when it finishes on Sunday. She is having her best season with 170 wins, 16 clear of second-placed Matthew Cameron on the national premiership.
She capped off her dominant season with five winners at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Allpress loves riding at tracks around the country and overseas but joins many in New Zealand racing calling for stake money increases.
She said the delight of riding five winners at Oamaru turned to disappointment when the $1200 she earned in stake money percentages reduced to $200 through expenses.
‘‘I love riding winners, but my enthusiasm wanes when you look at riding stakes in New Zealand compared to the rest of the world.
‘‘Take out all costs, [including] ACC levies and tax and half of what you’ve earned has gone,’’ Allpress said.
Advice from fellow jockey David Walsh on assessing track conditions has helped Allpress this season. ‘‘David’s showed me how to walk the track [before a race meeting], working out the best part to ride on.’’
Allpress is arranging to return to Japan in September for a threemonth contract. There is a chance she will receive an invitation to compete in an international jockeys’ series in Mauritius at the end of the year. During a threemonth stint in Japan last year, Allpress kicked home seven winners, along with a runner up in a Group II race.
When she returned to New Zealand it didn’t take long for her race rides to build up again.
‘‘The first couple of weeks [back] were a bit slow but I got plenty of support,’’ Allpress said.
On her next trip to Japan, a priority will be to gain a ride in the Japan Cup.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to getting back to Japan.’’
Other overseas tracks Allpress has ridden on are in Macau, Australia, England, Malaysia and Singapore.
Allpress’ passion for racing is as strong as ever. ‘‘I enjoy what I do, I live for it.
Allan Sharrock and Gary Vile are among the many trainers Allpress has ridden winners for this season.
‘‘She’s got the will to win, gives 100 per cent . . . if you get a rider doing that, day in and day out, that’s a big advantage,’’ Sharrock said. ‘‘She can ride light and works hard.’’
Vile reckoned Allpress was one of the strongest riders in the country. ‘‘She’s got terrific vigour, never gives up on horses,’’ Vile said.
Allpress gained considerable satisfaction from winning on outof-form horses. ‘‘It’s really good to win on them. . . their form’s terrible and most [people] thought they couldn’t get up.’’
Feilding jockey Darryl Bradley said Allpress deserved all her success. ‘‘She’s a very determined rider . . . second place won’t do, winning is the only option.’’