North Island riding got on to Wynne’s schedule when she was booked for two trips to ride classy galloper North And South at Awapuni earlier this month and again in tomorrow’s Opunake Cup in New Plymouth.
Though the jockey initially ran into bad luck when the Lisa Latta-trained mare was a late scratching at Awapui and her undercard rides the same day could not crack a top-three placing, it has turned out the trip was worth the effort. Wynne’s services were in high demand for her return north: she landed seven rides on tomorrow’s programme.
"I had a few calls before I knew I was coming. They were ringing me to see if I was, because there is a bit of a shortage of senior riders up there at the moment.
"There are a lot of jockeys out and away on holiday; it’s that time of year.
"I took it straight away because she is a good horse."
Wynne is taking her northern opportunities with open arms and is hoping they will better her as a rider.
"I can learn more up there, just stepping outside the comfort zone, and it will hopefully help me improve my riding."
Wynne does not think the late scratching of North And South in the lead-up to tomorrow’s race is disastrous, as she operates well fresh.
"She goes really well fresh, which is the key if she is ready enough, which I am sure she will be.‘‘It is a very competitive field. She will need to be on her A game."
That competitive line-up includes the Andrew Campbell-trained Longchamp, who ran second to Dolcetto in the event from which North And South was scratched. Longchamp’s effort under 59.5kg impressed Campbell.
"His last start was a good run, I thought; he carried a lot more weight than Dolcetto, who is an up-and-coming horse," he said.
"I’m over the moon with him. He’s come through it great and he’ll be going in there really happy.
"His work on Tuesday was super."
Longchamp was rated a $4 equal-second favourite with New York Minute on market opening.
The Allan Sharrock-trained Art Deco heads the betting at $3.80, while North And South opened as the fourth favourite at $8.50.
Wynne rates Stormy Habit in race 3 and Toulouse in race 7 as two of her best mounts on the New Plymouth undercard.
- Jonny Turner
