A new face will launch her New Zealand riding career this week, with apprentice Nichola Yuen set to ride at the Pukekohe trials on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Ellerslie.
The 24-year-old recently arrived in New Zealand to further her experience with the long-term aim of gaining a licence in Hong Kong.
Yuen is under the wing of former champion jockey Leith Innes, who last year took over the reins at the New Zealand Equine Academy.
The Skill NZ NZQA Level 2 course runs out of Byerley Park in Kingseat while the Level 3 and Apprentice Jockey Academy, powered by Entain, operates out of the satellite campus in Cambridge.
Yuen’s trial rides on Tuesday will include outings for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Kylie Hoskin and Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley.
“At this stage, it looks like she might have a couple of raceday rides on Saturday at Ellerslie, all going well,” Innes said.
“She’s already getting quite good support for the short time she’s been here, and she can ride at 51.5kg.”
Yuen moved from Hong Kong to South Australia in 2021 and was attached to the stable of Gary Searle, who trains with wife Nichole and daughter Brittany Callanan.
“She has got her New Zealand licence and can claim 2kg, she’s ridden 61 winners in South Australia and had about 700 rides there,” Innes said.
“I will be looking after her and she’s got a three-month licence to ride here with the option of a further three-month renewal after that.
“All going well, she’ll then hopefully get a licence to ride in Hong Kong, to get a licence there is a pretty big feat.”
Yuen arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of last week and has settled in well.
“She is currently based at Byerley Park and doing work for Grant Cooksley, Barbara Kennedy, Kylie Hoskin and Donna Logan,” Innes said.
“She’ll be there for the next few weeks and then we’ll maybe put her out in the Cambridge or Matamata areas.”
Innes will act as Yuen’s agent during her New Zealand tenure, and he can be contacted on 021 798 881.
