Amber Sims opens card at Ellerslie with Tremendous win
APPRENTICE jockey Amber Sims is making a splash in the New Zealand riding ranks and she kicked off racing at Ellerslie with a win aboard Tremendous.
The four-year-old trained by David Medcalfe was originally trained by Amber’s mother Patsy, but the enigmatic gelding was proving to be tough to handle at home.
“David used to ride him all the time because it was a bit hard for Mum when she had him in training,” a delight Sims said.
“Mum puts a lot of effort into her horses and deserves a lot of this credit as well as David.
“They have both put in so much effort.”
Saturday’s win in the Fathers F & J Shannahan Trust Maiden was a significant victory for Sims, who paid tribute to the horse’s owner.
“It’s so nice for Bill Phillips who owns him because he’s been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s,” Sims explained.
“This is the last horse he’s bred so it’s nice to get a win.”
Pukekohe-based trainer David Medcalfe also paid credit to the ownership team for trying something left field with the son of Iffraaj which paid $4.70 at CrownBet.com.au.
“I must thank Patsy and the owners for coming to a mutual agreement with the horse,” Medcalfe said. “He’s a little bit difficult.
“I’ve ridden him in work most of the time for Patsy, but we agreed upon having a change around with him. A lot of the work behind him goes to Patsy.”
Amber Sims gave Tremendous a wide run throughout the race, but most thoroughbreds at Ellerslie on Saturday will be steering away from the inside track on the heavy 11 surface.
“She rode him brilliantly,” Medcalfe said. “Young Amber… her riding has improved, she’s getting more rides and the more rides you get, the better you get.
“The more confidence you get, the more you grow as a jockey. It’s a natural thing that happens.”
Medcalfe is relived to see Tremendous breakthrough at its fifth career start after promising to break maiden grades since its debut in March.
“He’s had his issues, but we’ve just been trying to work on top of them,” he said. “I think we’re heading in the right direction.
“I didn’t expect that (to win). I thought if he weighed in I’d be happy, but he’s done better than that.”