Racing: Allpress plans determined push for jockeys' honour

Matt Cameron will be looking to It's A Message to help maintain his premiership lead. Photo / Christine Cornege

Lisa Allpress knows the clock is ticking - both on her premiership aspirations this season and her entire riding career.

But the 37-year-old hasn't giving up hope of catching Matt Cameron in what has become a two-jockey race for this season's leading rider.

Allpress heads to the Waipa meeting at Te Awamutu today on 113 wins for the term, 14 behind Cameron's 127, with James McDonald between them on 117 but now a non-factor in the premiership.

Cameron and Allpress have had remarkably similar seasons, with their strike rates almost identical, both having ridden nine group or listed winners and their mounts have even earned about the same at just under $1.9 million.

But the gap on the premiership table is much bigger as we enter the final two months of the season.

As daunting as it is, Allpress isn't giving up hope she can bridge it.

"It is a big gap but a lot can change in a week," she told the Herald.

"I have a full book down south for Michael Pitman on Friday and if I get closer to Matt then I might chase even harder.

"I've finished second and third in the premiership before and I'd love to win one."

Allpress concedes that might have to be in the next 14 months.

She is adamant she will ride again next season but says after that she may hang up the saddle.

"My family are my priority now," says the mother of two children, aged 4 and 7.

"It's hard now having to spend time away from them riding and I don't want to do it forever.

"So I will do my best this season and maybe even have a real push at the premiership next season then that might be it.

"But already it is hard on the kids when I am riding at least four days a week now."

While winning the premiership would cap Allpress's riding career, she realises it won't change her life as much as it would for a younger rider with goals overseas.

"It is not like I want to win the premiership to open new doors for me.

"I have ridden overseas and really enjoyed it and last year Carl [husband] and I had a really good offer from overseas but New Zealand is home and it is where we want to raise the kids at this stage.

"So a premiership would be more about personal achievement than boosting my riding opportunities for the future."

Allpress was most looking forward to riding Snow Excuse in the last today but doubts she will get the chance. "I see he is nominated for Trentham on Saturday so he might be scratched from the last race," she said.

"But if he does start he will be hard to beat.

"And I have some other nice rides, with Slumdog Millionaire a good each-way chance in race two."

One of the problems Alpress faces in trying to catch Cameron is he shows no signs of slowing down. He has four well-favoured chances today, with especially strong rides early in the meeting, including Its A Message who has raced in better company than what he meets in the www.teawamutu.co.nz rating 75.

CHASING HARD

* Lisa Allpress has not given up on winning this season's jockey's premiership.
* She sits 14 wins behind leader Matt Cameron.
* Allpress says next season could be her last in the saddle.
* Cameron has a strong book of rides early at Te Awamutu today.