Swedish jockey Annie Lindahl has swiftly made her mark on the New Zealand racing scene, guiding home her first winner at Riccarton Park on Wednesday.
Having just her seventh ride in the country, Lindahl partnered the John Blackadder-trained Quick Story in the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Rating 65 (2000m) at the midweek meeting, the mare rated a $30 hope despite a close-up second at her most recent start.
From barrier eight, Lindahl found the one-one position aboard Quick Story and with plenty to offer in the home straight, the daughter of What’s The Story kicked away to win by two lengths to Devil In Disguise.
“To get a winner down here is huge for me, now I’m keen to get many more,” Lindahl said. “That winning feeling is what we all are racing for.
“I thought the horse had a chance after her last race, I’d watched the replay and she ran really well. The plan was to sit in behind the leaders and she broke well from the gates, so we ended up where we wanted to be.
“The race went really smoothly all the way from there, she was travelling well into the straight and when I pushed the button, she really fired off and finished strongly.
“It was nice to sit on a horse that was so well prepared, it was a pleasant job to do and great to get over the line first.”
An accomplished rider partnering over 160 winners, the 27-year-old has plied her trade in a number of European countries, as well as time spent in the United States of America.
“I started pony racing, then I got picked up by a trainer asking if I wanted to be an apprentice,” she said. “I started my apprenticeship in 2015 with Hans Adielsson while I was still in high school, I’ve had support from many different trainers since then, but he really got me started.
“Hans and Walter Buick helped me get to Todd Pletcher’s in America, I went there to get more experience during the winter when there isn’t much racing back home.
“I did three winters there and got on some very nice horses, I learnt a lot. I got to ride a race for Todd which was amazing.”
Lindahl had seen a glimpse of New Zealand racing through fellow Swede Ulrika Holmquist, and a connection to sisters Hanna Orting and Sophia Nolan gave her the opportunity to experience the industry herself.
“I knew Hanna Orting, she’s also from Sweden, so I got in touch with her and asked if there was a possibility of coming over here and finding a job,” she said. “She got me in touch with her sister Sophia and Derek, then I got a working holiday visa, booked my ticket and came over here.
“I’ve also seen Ulrika has been here before and she was here last year, so I’ve seen a bit of New Zealand racing on social media.
“I’ve been here for two months and I’m really enjoying it, it’s nice to be in a warm place and see the sun while it’s winter back home.”
Lindahl has travelled around plenty of the Kiwi countryside in that time, riding in the far north at Ruakaka, before being a part of the iconic Kumara Gold Nuggets meeting on the West Coast of the South Island.
“It’s a new experience of racing for me, New Zealand has both smaller and bigger tracks and you need to adjust for everything,” she said. “On the smaller tracks, it’s quite speedy, and out on the big tracks, they seem to wait a bit more.
“The riding is more competitive down here, they ride a bit tighter, and you have to ride smarter. Back home, you can get away with small things that you probably wouldn’t down here.
“Everyone has been very welcoming, which makes it easier to like a new place.”
The Swedish racing circuit will recommence in April and Lindahl is hoping to make the most of her time in New Zealand before returning to her homeland.
“The season at home starts in April, so I’m planning to stay until around the end of February and early March,” she said. “I haven’t booked a ticket home yet, so I’m not completely set on a date.
“I really just want to experience as much as I can and grow as a rider, learning more things and get better. I always want to be better, I think there is always something new to learn and I’m always keen to learn more. That’s my main goal.”
Connor Harrison will be managing Lindahl’s rides during her New Zealand stint, he can be contacted at 021 276 8067.
