Racing: Jewel among amateurs

Race in Whangarei. Photo / Ron Burgin

Otago trainer Terry Kennedy has called on a name from the past for the amateur riders' rating 65 1400m at Wingatui today.

Jason Laking, the winner of more than 300 races in New Zealand, will climb aboard My Reason and Kennedy is pleased to provide the talented jockey with his first raceday ride for more than three years.

Laking hung up his riding boots in February 2011 because of weight issues, and took up work at a tyre shop in Ashburton.

The 31-year-old has been riding regular track work however, and Kennedy thought he would throw out a line and see if he got a bite.

Kennedy had originally offered the ride to his track work rider Anna Swainson but she already had a mount booked. "I rung Jason and he was happy enough to have a go.

"You don't get many group one amateurs, do you? Anna's one then got crook and got withdrawn, so that was a bit of bad luck."

Laking's group one win came on board The Jewel in the 2002 edition of the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.

If Laking is successful aboard My Reason, it will be his first winning ride since guiding Outrageous Fortune to a win at Gore in December 2010.

My Reason has not raced since May 11, when he finished ninth behind Ima Geegee.

"He hasn't had a run for a while, so he'll take a bit of improvement out of the run," Kennedy said.

"I just couldn't get a rating 65 1400m for him, so we've just given him a bit of work, and he should be fit enough."