Racing: Early tip to cup carnival

Leith Innes is quick to dismiss any chance he has of completing back-to-back New Zealand jockey premiership title victories.

The Matamata-based jockey does not want to spend the winter racing period riding in New Zealand and is quick to acknowledge that may cost him another premiership title.

Innes won the NZ premiership last season with 114 wins.

The victory was made easier when premiership leading rival Michael Walker shifted permanently to Melbourne in May.

Innes has had a magical winning sequence over the past week.

Last Saturday Innes won two Group Two races at Ellerslie with St Reims and Calveen.

He also won a listed event on the same day with Danbird.

On Thursday Innes rode Ambitious Owner to victory in the $200,000 (Group One) Levin Classic at Otaki.

The Matamata jockey struck again at Ellerslie yesterday winning the Group Three Great Northern Challenge Stakes with St Jessie.

"I'll be looking to get out of New Zealand for the winter racing period and securing a short term riding contract overseas," said Innes. "A lot of the horses in the [Lance] O'Sullivan racing stable don't race during the winter and that's the stable I'm the number one rider for.

"I just don't like the New Zealand winter racing period as it's really tough on the body and also hard work getting up and riding trackwork when the conditions can be so bad.

"I'm not really getting carried away with chasing the premiership this season. I will be targeting all the big meetings here in New Zealand like the Auckland and Wellington Cup carnivals and securing some good horses to ride.

"I'm looking forward to the Auckland Cup Carnival as I've got some exciting horses to ride.

"At this stage St Reims is a likely Auckland Cup runner and he's a very hard horse to catch when he races at Ellerslie.

"He's a really strong front runner and if you rate him in front he's got the speed and class to take out a big two mile race.

"Calveen is a very exciting mare and her explosive speed when following the pace will make her a top chance in the big mile race on January 3.

"Danbird is a likely runner in the Railway and he is coming into form at the right time of the season."

Innes will also ride Cedar Manor in the Avondale Guineas next Saturday and he is keen on securing the ride in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Cedar Manor has recently returned from a successful racing campaign in Melbourne and is held in high regard by co-trainer Stephen Autridge and Innes.

"I rode him at the Cambridge trials on Tuesday and he was given a quiet run settling back in the field and running on at the finish.

"For a horse that has had as much racing as he has had, I've got to say, that Cedar Manor looks in tremendous order.

"He felt very strong throughout the trial and I'm looking forward to riding him in the Avondale Guineas."