Dual licence holder Samantha Wynne had a day to remember in the saddle at Wingatui on Saturday, and she is hoping she can take that winning momentum north to Ellerslie on Saturday where she will line-up Pivotal Ten in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
At the Property Brokers Otago Classics Day last Saturday, Wynne rode Loftys Gift and Maximus Augustus to victory in the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) and $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) respectively, while she finished runner-up aboard Airpark Hustler and Perfect Scenario in the Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Dunedin Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) respectively.
“It was a great day,” Wynne said. “I thought I had nice enough rides in great fields. I was more hopeful than confident going into the day, and they did really well.
“It was a dominant effort by Loftys Gift, and it was great to get the win. It was also great to get the win for Bill (McNamara, with Maximus Augustus). He is a small trainer and does a great job in looking after his horses. I thought he was a cheeky chance going into the race, but he travelled like the winner throughout and he had a great finish on him.”
Wynne said the meeting was a big hit with locals, attracting plenty of punters to the Dunedin track.
“It was great to see so many young people on course enjoying themselves, and it is only going to get better as it grows,” she said.
Wynne’s attention has swiftly shifted to preparing her star filly Pivotal Ten for Saturday’s NZB Kiwi.
“It’s the biggest week of my career,” she said.
Wynne will don Cambridge Stud’s familiar colours when she rides Pivotal Ten in the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, after they recently bought into the filly, with Colin Wightman remaining in the ownership.
“It (Cambridge Stud ownership) was a confidence boost going into this week, which was needed,” Wynne said.
The Canterbury horsewoman has a good relationship with Cambridge Stud, which she is looking forward to extending with Pivotal Ten.
“I rode in the Auckland Cup (aboard Dance Card) for Brendan and Jo (Lindsay, Cambridge Stud principals), and I am retained rider to one of his (Brendan’s) good friend’s, Alan Harper,” Wynne said.
“I have trained a horse for Cambridge Stud, and I lease and have bought horses off them. They have been great people to deal with and it’s exciting going forward.”
The Lindsays colours will also be represented in the NZB Kiwi by First Dance, with the couple selecting the Lance Noble-trained filly to fill their slot.
Pivotal Ten, who has strung together five successive victories, her last three at stakes level, will fly to Auckland on Monday where she will spend the week at Cambridge Stud’s Karaka complex.
“She is good, and she is happy in herself,” Wynne said. “She’s perky at the moment and we are flying out today (Monday) so hopefully she handles the travel. It is going to be a lot easier on her than the truck.
“We are going to base ourselves at Lance Noble’s (Cambridge Stud’s private trainer) at Karaka. She is going to be in the best place. It is amazing, I was lucky to spend a week there before and it is out of this world, so I am excited to bring her up there and show her what it is all about.”
Pivotal Ten, who will represent NZB Kiwi slot holders Selangor Turf Club, is currently rated a $12 winning chance with TAB bookmakers in the NZB Kiwi futures market, with Australian raiders Evaporate and Public Attention dominating the market at $2.80 and $4 respectively.
While Pivotal Ten is currently Wynne’s only ride for Champions Day, she said she is open to being more active on the exciting card.
“If I could get another ride or two on the day that would be amazing,” she said.