Racing: Barnes joins senior rider ranks

Courtney Barnes begins her career as a senior jockey at Gore today. PHOTO: MATT SMITH
Courtney Barnes begins her career as a senior jockey at Gore today. PHOTO: MATT SMITH
A new era for Courtney Barnes starts today at Gore.

Barnes (21) stepped into the senior riding ranks this week after four years as an apprentice

under the tutelage of Shane Anderton.

She has gone from a quiet 17-year-old seeking out her first winner to a winner of 92 races - including three listed races - and more than $1.2 million in stakes earned by her rides.

The support from trainers in the lower South Island has continued at the Gore meeting, with rides in more than half the races on the nine-race card.

Barnes said her apprenticeship had been rewarding.

She had come largely from a background in other equestrian sports.

‘‘I didn't really have a lot of trial rides [before starting her apprenticeship] so I didn't know a lot,'' she said.

Highlights included the Dunedin Guineas win with Include, and victory on the same mare in the South Island Breeders' Stakes last March.

Barnes derived plenty from a New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing scholarship which gave her two weeks' work experience with Mornington trainer Pat Carey in VIctoria.

‘‘I learned a lot over there and getting to ride at Flemington and Moonee Valley was great.''

Barnes expects she will need to hunt out the rides a little more now she is a senior rider. While she can ride at 53kg, she expects claiming apprentices will be in demand with the recent lift in the maximum weights.

‘‘I probably will have to [chase rides] with the weights going up.

‘‘A lot of them are getting 60kg or even more than that sometimes, so everybody is claiming.''

Barnes' best chance at Gore today could be her last on the card, with Commix dabbling her hooves in the rating 65 grade in race 8.

The Steven Prince-trained mare stepped up to 2000m at Omakau on January 3, and came away a comfortable winner with Barnes in the saddle.

‘‘She didn't beat much but it was pretty impressive for her first time over ground,'' she said.

‘‘I think she should cope with [the grade rise] - she definitely impressed us going over ground once.''

Barnes will carry 56kg aboard another Steven Prince runner, Cher Magic in race 5, who has began her career with two fifths.

‘‘It's a horse that will definitely improve with racing. She's been quite a green horse on both starts and is still learning the tricks of the trade. I definitely think she'll be com-petitive tomorrow.''

Barnes is very familiar with Fascinate (race 6), having ridden the mare in five of her 10 career starts and in plenty of trackwork for Brian and Shane Anderton.

‘‘She's a funny horse - she's an amazing track-work gallopers and you get off her in the morning and you think she will bolt home, but she just hasn't done that on race day yet, so she will definitely want to improve tomorrow.''

Dreamworld (race 7) is the best of the rest, having put in two fair runs in the rating 75 grade including with Barnes on board last start.

‘‘I was pretty happy with her to run fifth over 1400m,'' she said.

‘‘I didn't think she'd be able to keep up, but she travelled into the race good. I didn't have all favours in the straight, so I was really happy with the run.''

Barnes rates Gallant Boy in the 1200m handicap as one of her best chances at Wingatui on Saturday - appropriately enough, another Brian and Shane Anderton-trained runner.

‘‘They've done heaps for me - I wouldn't be where I am today without them.''

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