What a Winner

"Everybody Loves a Winner" crooned William Bell in 1967 and at his last outing, albeit in 2011, Jamie Richards had set the stage for a winning return aboard Highly Likely (3 g High Chaparral - Starrink, by Volksraad) in the race for amateur riders over 2200 metres on June 18 at Te Aroha.

Richards, the Te Akau Racing Manager, said earlier in the week that he was successful on Dane Ruler (Viking Ruler) at his last ride in August 2011 at Oamaru, and in scoring with Highly Likely improved his enviable record to four wins and two seconds from only seven rides in amateur races.

Although Highly Likely was awkward as the gates opened, Richards soon had him travelling on a nice rein just behind the leaders on the rail. Appearing to revel in the testing ground when improving to trail at the 800 metres, Highly Likely levelled to lead on the inside of rivals at the 300 metres, gained an advantage a furlong out, and in a no panic ride was guided to victory.

"It was very nice and good to have an in-house effort" said stable foreman Tommy Hazlett. "His run at Egmont wasn't that bad, but Jamie gave him a lovely ride and as is usually the case with amateur races the best ride won the race.

"He is a horse with a couple of tricks, but he is starting to mature mentally and he can go on from here."

"Jamie rides work for us in the mornings and between him and Daniel Miller (Te Akau apprentice) they have done quite a bit of work with horse and it's good to get a result" said Hazlett.

On debut in a Maiden 3YO 1600 metres at his previous start, Highly Likely produced a good performance when belatedly he made very good ground to finish one length from the winner in fifth on Heavy10 footing at Hawera.

Highly Likely was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $80,000 at the 2012 South Island Sale, from the draft of Phoenix Park, and he is owned by the Fortuna Highly Likely Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

"We had ten of the syndicate on course and it was fantastic" said Galvin. "The horse handled the testing conditions very well indeed, was beautifully ridden, not covering an inch of extra ground, and although they were getting to him at the line he had it in hand.

"He's a lovely staying type that I think will continue to show his mettle as he develops and strengthens" said Galvin.

A talented young horseman, Richards is a son of former top jockey (riding over 1000 winners) and now established trainer Paul Richards.

"I am very pleased" said Richards, following the win. "Obviously drawing barrier three was a big assist, as we were able to follow the rail around and join in when we wanted to. He travelled kindly through the race and when everybody started to get off the fence from the 800m I was able to track up behind the speed.

"I thought that with the jumpers in the previous two races mainly using the inside two panels that if I could get out a bit further I expected the going would be not be too bad, so I held my ground on the inside, kept him up to the mark, and he ground away well.

"Although he's not a horse that quickens a lot, he never gives up and just keeps going. I was getting a wee bit desperate fifty metres from home when the horse to his outside had had enough and my boy thought he would have a look around and pricked the ears, but it was only his second start and he will improve into a nice staying horse next year," said Richards.

Has winning his first ride back after nearly three years whetted the appetite for Richards to continue?

"I was running on empty nearing the finish, but we'll just keep whacking around," he said. "I always wanted to get one in the Te Akau tangerine, whether that was for John (Galvin) or David (Ellis). Dad (Paul Richards) might have one down south for me next week, so I might shoot down and ride that one if the weather holds and the races are on.

Editor note - of course Jamie's Dad Paul won in the tangerine so he's waited for his son to catch up!!  Matt Cameron's understudy??

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz