Flemington on Saturday and Oamaru on Sunday - not your regular weekend for an apprentice jockey.
But that was the travel schedule for Wingatui jockey Courtney Barnes last weekend as she juggled the end of her two-week stint in Victoria with her mounts on Oamaru Cup day.
Barnes and fellow apprentice Samantha Wynne spent two weeks in the leading racing state on scholarships courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
Barnes turned 21 on Saturday and spent her birthday at the home of the Melbourne Cup, Flemington, before catching a flight back to Christchurch on Saturday night.
Barnes rode Kareeming to 10th on Saturday over a mile - several furlongs short of his best distance.
''He hit the line quite well. His last-start run was over 2500m, so it was a bit short for him, but he was strong through the line,'' she said.
Flemington's home straight measures in at 450m and has caught out a few first-time riders over the years.
Barnes was always going to get back in the field with Kareeming, so was unlikely to get sucked in, but she did her homework just in case.
''I walked the track beforehand and it's a massive straight - it gave me a sense of how long it is.''
''It was a great experience being there. It's a massive track and just being there was really cool.''
Barnes also enjoyed her chance to ride at Moonee Valley on Wednesday, finishing fifth on Sense in the City.
''Moonee Valley is a really cool track. It's a different track, but the facilities there are amazing and it's a cool place to ride.''
The Moonee Valley race saw Barnes ride against Steven Arnold, who is the regular rider of So You Think in Australia, and Craig Newitt, who made his name with star sprinter Miss Andretti.
Saturday's race at Flemington was won by Abbasso, ridden by legendary Australian jockey Damien Oliver, and another leading rider, Craig Williams, finished seventh with Actuariat, just ahead of Barnes.
Barnes did not get to mingle too much with the big-name jockeys, but said they were pleasant.
''They all said hi and were very polite and that was about it.''
Barnes stayed with Mornington trainer Pat Carey and his family for the two weeks, riding three horses for Carey and two for Bryce Stanaway.
Both trainers were pleased with her efforts on their mounts.
''[Carey] was happy with the way I rode all his horses each day that I rode them and Bryce Stanaway was happy with the way I rode his too, so it was good.''
Wynne had some success on her trip, finishing third in a $100,000 race at Flemington on June 11, after running a close second at Mildura on July 6.
She also secured a second placing on Katy Kat at Warracknabeal on July 12.
