Toni Davies after winning the feature at Ōtaki on Riverplate. Photo / Jane Davidson
Palmerston North apprentice jockey Toni Davies had a weekend to remember, scoring her first treble at Ōtaki on Saturday and winning the last race at Hāwera on Sunday.
Apprenticed to Peter and Trent Didham, Davies got the weekend off to a winning start for her employers aboard Shameless Star.
She then returned victorious two races later aboard fellow Awapuni mare Ima Brazen One, and scored one of the biggest results of her career when taking out the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) on Riverplate.
Still on a high from Saturday’s results, Davies trekked north to Hāwera on Sunday, where she added another win to her tally when guiding home the aptly named Been A Pleasure.
“I am super stoked with how the weekend went and I am grateful to all the trainers and connections for the rides,” she said.
Her win aboard Riverplate was her second at stakes level after partnering Ruby Rocks to win last year’s Listed Marton Cup (2200m) at Trentham.
It was the first time she had ridden Riverplate and she was pleased she was proactive and chased the ride last week.
“I rang Andrew (Campbell, trainer) the day the fields came out and I was really happy to get on,” Davies said.
“I was hoping we would get a nice, soft lead. It wasn’t as soft as we would have hoped, but he got nice sectionals and he was pretty tough to the line.
“Now they know he can get the mile and I am sure more opportunities will now open up for him.”
Davies was also rapt with her other three wins over the weekend, particularly aboard Shameless Star, who is one of her favourite horses.
“Shameless Star is a tough and competitive filly, and I was stoked to get the win for the owners and the bosses,” she said.
“She is one of the favourites in the stable, so to get the win on her was quite special.
“It was cool to be back onboard Ima Brazen One and to get the win for In To Win (syndicate), she is a gritty mare and she has just improved a lot with age.
“It was nice to end the weekend with a win yesterday, it was nice to get it for Gary Vile and the connections. I was super happy with how the weekend turned out.”
Her quartet of victories have brought Davies’ season tally to 27 wins, just two victories shy of last season’s tally, with more than two months of the current term to go.
“I am getting a bit of consistency and momentum going and kicking some goals, it has been good,” Davies said.
Now in her fourth season of riding, Davies is enjoying being based in the Central Districts, after commencing her career in South Auckland.
She has been grateful for the support she has received in the CD region.
“I started up north with Moira and Kieran Murdoch at Isola riding the racehorses on the beach,” Davies said.
“They offered me an apprenticeship and I ended up coming down here (Palmerston North) on loan and ended up transferring and I haven’t looked back.
“It was a great opportunity to come down, there weren’t many four-kilo claimers at the time, and I have had a lot of support from the trainers and owners down here.”
Davies is hoping to continue her winning momentum into this week.
She is looking forward to heading to Hastings on Thursday where racing will return after a 20-month hiatus for remedial work following the abandonment of the second day of the 2024 Spring Carnival.
“I am excited about it (returning to Hastings),” Davies said.
“I rode at the trials there and everything went well, I thought it was a lovely surface to ride on and I can’t wait to get back racing there.”
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk