Moki and Myers’ dual magic
Zinjete Moki was given an opportunity by her new boss Kevin Myers at Trentham yesterday and she grabbed it with both hands.
The Pukekohe apprentice is on a three-month loan to the Whanganui trainer by her regular mentor Richard Collett.
She is loving her time in the central districts and was surprised and delighted when Myers entrusted her with the rides on all six of his Trentham team.
She repaid his faith with victory aboard Duffers Creek in the $40,000 North Island Challenge Stakes (1400m) to open her account for her adopted stable.
‘‘It’s definitely a good race to win and I’m stoked to get the win for the stable,’’ she said.
‘‘He [Duffers Creek] was cruising out in front but I gave him a couple of back-handers to keep him honest.’’
Moki will be at Hawera today for four rides.
‘‘Other trainers have seen that Kevin is putting me on his horses, therefore they are willing to give me rides on their horses,’’ Moki said. She isn’t resting on her laurels. Myers has a big team at Hawera and Moki will pitch in to help with the stable’s 15-odd runners before she rides in the final four flat races.
‘‘I’ll help out with saddling and strapping the jumpers before my races,’’ Moki said.
‘‘It’s a busy stable and everyone helps out to get the job done.’’
Moki managed to guide Willy Duggan into fourth in another of yesterday’s features, the Trentham Gold Cup (2100m).
However, Willy Duggan and the rest of the field had no answer to favourite Bel Sorriso – the Keeper mare running away with the $40,000 race from northern visitor Reka and southerner Timy Tyler.
Trainer Grant Searle was unsure of the mare’s winter program.
‘‘She loves the wet – she just loves it,’’ Searle said.
‘‘I’ve got no plans. I’ll get her home and just take it race by race.’’
Johnathan Parkes rode Bel Sorriso and added the day’s third feature, guiding Cool Moon to success in the $50,000 Dunstan Feeds Autumn Championship Sprint Final.
From the Hawera stable of Anna Clement, it was the sixth win from 35 starts for the gelded son of One Cool Cat.
‘‘I was able to let him coast into the race,’’ Parkes said.
‘‘All in all it was a good win.’’