Richards Returns to Where It All Began

The Informant reports:

This afternoon at Wingatui, Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards will attempt to win his first race at the track where his racing career began.

Richards grew up just around the corner from the Wingatui racecourse and got his grounding in the industry under the tutelage of his father, former successful jockey and trainer Paul.

"We are just trying to get her confidence up a bit and placing her in the right races".

Since then he has won races up and down New Zealand, but none have come on his former stomping ground. That looks set to change today as Richards lines up four very strong winning chances.

The breakthrough could come with his very first runner. Swing Note returned from her promising three-year-old season with a big finish to win first-up at Ashburton last month.

She stays in Rating 72 grade today and rises two kilograms off that run in the first race on today's card. Apprentice Nik Bakar's four-kilogram claim sees Swing Note only having to carry 54 kilograms despite that weight rise.

Swing Note meets a similar field to the one she defeated last time on similar heavy track conditions and looks extremely hard to beat today.

“We are just trying to get her confidence up a bit and placing her in the right races as we try to sneak a bit of black type with her,” Richards said. “She is going well and she has trained on well since Ashburton.”

Should Swing Note be defeated, Richards will likely still not have to wait too long for his first Wingatui winner. Summer Monsoon comes into race four in similar circumstances to Swing Note.

The four-year-old also produced a big finish out wide to win on the heavy Ashburton track.

“He is an improving horse and is going well and his work has been good, and I would like to think he is a good chance,” Richards said.

Red-hot stable jockey Shafiq Rusof reunites with Summer Monsoon today. Richards lines up three-year-old Darci Brahma gelding Our Flying Ace in race five, with Rusof also aboard. The horse holds a Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas nomination and it is hoped he can take his first step towards that race today.

“He is nominated and if he puts his hand up he is a chance to go there,” Richards said. “It is up to him, really.

“We were going to race him at Riccarton next Saturday, but we have another couple of maidens to go there so we just thought we would split them up.”

Our Flying Ace trialled nicely on a heavy track Te Teko leading into his debut, and a southern maiden race looks well within his reach.

“He can run on soft going and his work has been good,” Richards said.

Richards' last runner at Wingatui today has a big task on his hands. Bak Da Master, with Rusof aboard, must carry 59 kilograms over the testing Wingatui 1600-metre course with its famed rising straight.

It's a test for any horse, but Richards is confident his charge is up to the task.

“He is a big strong horse, I am sure he can carry the weight,” he said. “He is an improved horse and he starting to mature a bit now. He should jump and race handy to the speed and be another good chance.”