A decade ago, Rory Hutchings had the most successful day of his career at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and the expat Kiwi hoop will kick off a stint riding in his homeland at the iconic meeting this Thursday.
Hutchings was a three-time champion apprentice jockey in New Zealand whilst under the tutelage of Graeme Rogerson, for whom he won his first Group One aboard Soriano in the 2014 edition of the Zabeel Classic (2000m).
“That was the greatest day I’ve had on a racecourse for sure, I was apprenticed to Rogey and he trained her,” Hutchings said.
“Denise (Howell) owned Soriano and she was like a second mother to me while I was an apprentice, I still keep in touch with her now. That trophy sits pride of place in the trophy cabinet at my house.”
Hutchings has spent much of his twenties riding in New South Wales, winning a champion apprentice crown in Sydney while indentured to champion trainer and fellow New Zealander Chris Waller, alongside victories up to Group Two level.
Taking notice of the increase in stakes back home this season, Hutchings decided to return to the Waikato temporarily, enjoying his first Christmas at home in a number of years.
“It had been playing on my mind, I talked to Aidan Rodley about three months ago and we started to get the ball rolling,” he said.
“It’s been a pretty good season so far (in Australia), I’m riding at a pretty high strike rate and had a few metropolitan winners, which is always good. I’ve noticed probably in the last month that the rides have slimmed up a little bit, there are a lot of UK and Irish riders over on their winter break which makes things a bit more competitive.
“Obviously with the increase in prizemoney, I saw a good opportunity here and thought I would come back and have a go for a few months. It’s really good, probably in the last 12 months it’s gotten the boost that it really needed. New Zealand is a jurisdiction that’s always had the promise and I think we’re finally going to see that potential come to fruition now.
“I’ll just spend Wednesday with my family, I don’t think I’ve been home for Christmas for about seven years, so that will be good. My little sister has just had a baby a couple of weeks ago, so it’ll be nice to spend time with them.”
Hutchings has picked up rides in each of the three Group races on Thursday, including course-proven Group One winner El Vencedor in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m).
The son of Shocking upset star mare Legarto when claiming the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in March, a performance he emulated when winning the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.
At his most recent appearance, El Vencedor finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m), a run Hutchings is happy to look past ahead of the feature.
“At his best, he’s going to be very competitive,” he said. “He missed the kick the other day and had to do a lot of work early, so you can probably forgive that run at Wellington.”
The 29-year-old will also partner Customized in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) and Real Class in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
“I’ve got a couple of up-and-coming three-year-olds in tough races for Steven Cole and Jenna Mahoney,” he said. “Jenna’s horse (Real Class) won really nicely at Te Aroha.
“I have a couple for Tony Pike too (Poetic Justice and Overdrawn) and his team is going very well.”
Hutchings will be based at Matamata, with his former agent in Rodley doing his rides over the coming months.
“Aidan did my rides before I left and he was more than happy to help me out while I’m here,” he said.
“The plan is to stay for three months at this stage and hopefully be busy and take opportunities.”
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