Lowry can start as senior in style

WHEN Coulee shoots for three consecutive wins in the South Island Breeders Stakes at Riccarton tomorrow, there will be one significant difference from her previous victories in the race.

The star Southern mare will have a senior rider on her back, rather than an apprentice.

It is not because the Brian and Shane Andertontrained mare will have had a change of jockey. Rather, Jacob Lowry will ride as a fully fledged rider for the first time.

Lowry, who turned 20 yesterday, signed off his fouryear apprenticeship earlier this month.

He said he had come a long way since his career began as a freshfaced 16yearold.

‘‘When I first started I did not think I would get this far with the weight battle. That is why I started so early, so I could get a good four years out of it,’’ he said.

Though there have been bumpy patches along the way, Lowry’s weight has stabilised which sets the platform for his career to continue and for success as a senior rider.

The transition to senior jockey will not bring any drastic career changes or relocations as many other jockeys have gone through.

‘‘I am pretty happy where I am. There is no need for change. I am getting a pretty good go.’’

‘‘The biggest thing might be that I will have to travel to Canterbury a bit more for trials and things like that.

‘‘I am out on my own now, so I have got to do what I can to get rides.’’

Lowry’s apprenticeship net ted him 116 wins and the connections of those winners more than $2 million in prize money.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic from his apprenticeship is the nine stakes wins.

Lowry has a perfect chance to add another stakes win to his resume with Coulee in tomorrow’s group 3 feature over 1600m.

‘‘She is obviously the horse to beat — she has won the race the last two years,’’ Lowry said.

‘‘A bit of sting out of the ground is not going to hurt her and the autumn time is her time of year.

‘‘Every run she is having she is getting better.’’

TAB bookies rate boom filly Excelleration and Central Districts raider La Fille En Jeu as the best chances and opened them as $4 fixedodds favourites.

Lowry’s White Robe Lodge counterparts, Shankar Muniandy and Courtney Barnes, will play a major role in tomorrow’s race for 2yrolds.

Barnes reunites with the exciting Xpressmymind and Muniandy is back on emphatic debut winner Kerany.

Barnes’s chances of winning the open sprint look to have been diluted by rain which could slow down her speedster, Carnival.

The race looks like Don Carlo’s for the taking, if he backs up his last two strong wins.

Course specialist Who Dares Wins is a leading chance in the Hororata Cup over 1800m.

Iam pretty happy where I am.

There is no need for change. I am getting a

pretty good go

Jacob Lowry