Apprentice Kate Cowan wins Winter Cup aboard Nashville

Nashville
Apprentice jockey Kate Cowan produced a brilliant ride to win the 120th Winter Cup aboard Nashville. Photo: NZ Racing Desk

THE faith shown by connections to keep apprentice jockey Kate Cowan in the saddle aboard Nashville has paid off with a win in the Winter Cup at Riccarton.

The relatively inexperienced hoop rode the multiple group one winner to perfection and punters that took the early $41 with Sportsbet.com.au were cheering loudly.

Cowan let the nine-year-old winner of over $900,000 find its feet early in the race before making ground up the inside and coming down centre track in the straight. Cowan was helped out by former jockey David Walsh on Friday and that experience made all the difference.

“I’d like to thank Mr David Walsh. Yesterday we walked the whole track together,” Cowan said. “That was so important and that helped me a lot today.

“I felt like there was an earpiece and he was coaching me along the whole way.

“He was a huge help.”

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A winner of only eight of her previous 116 rides, Cowan won’t forget the day she won a time-honoured race such as the Winter Cup.

“It’s such a special moment and I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank Adrian and Harry Bull,” Cowan said.

“These things just don’t happen to apprentices.

“To keep me on – people can say some things about it, but they’re so loyal and I’m so lucky to be sitting in that seat.”

Nashville was having its 65th start, but after an encouraging performance in the Opunake Cup last start, many punters believed it could turn back time to show its best.

“It was a great training effort. He’s just a fantastic horse and I’m lucky to be a part of it,” Cowan added.

Doiknowyou battled on well for second with race favourite New York Minute fighting on well along the inside to hold on for fourth.

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