Jockey heading to Gold Coast
Dual Group I winning jockey Racha Cuneen is set to trade in the harsh Canterbury winter for the sun and surf of the Gold Coast.
Cuneen, 25, has three meetings left in the South Island before he crosses the Tasman in a bid to take his career to the next level. He will sign out following the Wingatui meeting on May 26.
In a breakout season, Cuneen has won two Group I races aboard La Diosa in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton and Signify in the Telegraph at Trentham.
Cuneen said having the two Group I’s behind him looked good on paper but admits he will be ‘‘a nobody’’ on the Gold Coast and will have to knuckle down and ride plenty of work in a bid to earn quality race day rides.
He will link up with Bundall trainer Bruce Hill but will be chasing opportunities everywhere he can.
Now operating as a senior rider, Cuneen feels the time is right to make the move.
He plans to give the Gold Coast scene five or six months and then re-evaluate but is keen to make the move a permanent one if it proves viable.
But it is highly likely he will be back at Riccarton for Cup week.
Cuneen believes it will be financially viable to fly back to Canterbury for major meetings if he can secure the right rides.
He is optimistic the warmer conditions on the Gold Coast will help him better manage his weight and he predicts he could ride up to 2kg lighter.
‘‘You never know what doors might open or what opportunities could come up over there.
‘‘It only takes one good horse to get you going and get your name out there,’’ he said.
Cuneen, who has ridden 115 winners in New Zealand, knows only too well the boost a good horse can give a career.
Back in early 2015, he was a battling apprentice until he teamed up with the Steven Woodsford-trained Miss Seton Sands.
She gave Cuneen his first Listed win and the pair went onto win again at Listed level and run second in the 2016 Telegraph.
All up the pair won seven races together before the now retired Gonski mare crossed the Tasman.
Just a few short months later, Cuneen was back on another special filly with La Diosa delivering him two more Listed victories before his first Group I in the Guineas. And then came Signify’s Telegraph win.
Ironically, the Telegraph victory would never have happened if Cuneen’s scheduled move to Malaysia after Cup week had not have fallen through due to issues with a work visa.
None one of Cuneen’s major wins have been for his former employer Neill Ridley but he believes he owes a lot to the Riccarton trainer.
‘‘He’s been massive,’’ Cuneen said of Ridley.
‘‘He’s the one that got my head in the right space and got me focussed.
‘‘Even though I haven’t had a heap of rides for him on race day, he’s the one who would pull me aside and show me what I had done wrong if I’d made a mistake.’’
Before he began riding in the South Island back in early 2014, Cuneen bounced between several stables in the North Island.
His career was labouring at best and by his omission, he lacked direction and focus.
‘‘From where I am now to where I was when I first moved down here, it’s hard to believe really. It’s overwhelming what I’ve achieved,’’ Cuneen said.