CHRISTCHURCH - Champion apprentice Michael Walker got the new season off to a flier when he rode three winners at Riccarton Park.
It was Walker's second day of riding for the season which only began last week. His first day's riding was at Hastings on Thursday where victory eluded him.
Saturday at Riccarton was his second day of riding for the season and he took the most valuable flat race prize of the winter.
The 16-year-old became the first rider to win the New Zealand jockeys' premiership on debut when he took out last season's title with 131 wins.
About the only thing Walker lost last season was the Personality of the Year Award in which he was surprisingly beaten by Graham Bruton, owner of champion trotter Lyell Creek and a big time punter.
Walker said a number of people had expressed to him their surprise at the award.
"A few people have said to me that they thought I was robbed," Walker said.
"But it doesn't worry me. I'll just keep going and maybe I'll win it next year."
Walker's treble at Riccarton included the day's feature, the group three $50,000 Winter Cup (1600m) aboard the Mark Oulaghan-trained Jolly Rodger.
It was Walker's sixth win at group three level. Nine months ago at the same track he rode his first group three winner as a replacement for Brian Hibberd on Joe Hero in the Stewards' Handicap (1200m).
Two of Walker's winners yesterday were for the Oulaghan stable. The other was Victory Dance four-year-old gelding Moore's Hall who took out a class one race. It was the horse's second win from four starts.
Walker's third winner came in the day's last race when he combined with Jaybejay to score in a $20,000 premier quality event over 1800m.
Jaybejay, trained by owner Peter McKenzie at Otaki, was a firm favourite at odds of 2-1 and has compiled the very good record of five wins and five seconds from 15 starts.
- NZPA
Racing: Whiz kid takes Winter Cup
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