Jones records first NZ win

Expat English jockey Ethan Jones left Ellerslie a happy man on Wednesday after he recorded his first win in New Zealand aboard Grinzinger Moon (Puissance De Lune).

The 22-year-old hoop moved to New Zealand at the start of the season at the behest of his good mate and fellow expat jockey George Rooke, who had made the move across to the other side of the world a year prior and was enjoying a fruitful time down under.

“George Rooke moved over here a year before me and he was very keen on me coming over here,” Jones said. “It got to the point over in the UK where I was struggling a bit to get the rides because the competition was so high, so I thought I would give it (New Zealand) a try.”

While Jones was enjoying his time in New Zealand last year, the difference in rules between New Zealand and his homeland put some hurdles in his way in getting his license.

“Where I have raced for four years in England, the apprentices over here do a three-year course, so they weren’t going to allow me to have a claim, so it was either go back to England or become a senior rider over here,” Jones said. “I ultimately made the decision to become a senior over here and work even harder.”

Jones made his New Zealand riding debut last month and he said there are a few differences in racing style to back home.

“The racing itself is a lot different to how I used to ride back in England,” he said. “The tracks are a lot sharper and smaller, and you have to be a lot more aware of what is going on around you, and the pace itself is a bit different.”

Jones has mostly been riding work for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, and he was rapt to bring up his first win aboard one of their runners on Wednesday.

“I am really happy it is for Roger and Rob, who have supported me since the day I arrived,” Jones said.

There was plenty of talk about Grinzinger Moon ahead of her New Zealand debut, with the four-year-old mare having previously won four of her eight starts in Australia.

“We were going in there hoping she would go a good race, we still didn’t know a lot about her,” Jones said. “I trialled her at Avondale and she went really well, especially for her first trial.

“We had a good barrier draw (5), we thought we would just jump and get into a positive position and see how we get on in the straight. She proved to be very tough yesterday and based on her form in Australia, I can’t see why she can’t keep progressing over here.”

While Jones is enjoying carving out a career in the saddle, racing wasn’t always a part of his life, with his family not having any involvement in the sport, and it was his diminutive stature and curiosity about horses that led him on a path to becoming a jockey.

“Initially it was mainly my height,” he said. “I was always a sporty person, especially at school where I was really into my football. I randomly said to my parents one day that I wanted to ride a horse and they took me to a local riding school and I fell in love with it and I progressed into racing.

“I worked for a local trainer called George Baker on the weekend to help out and once I finished secondary school I approached the British Racing School in Newmarket and I spent two years up there learning everything about racing. As soon as I finished that I moved away from home, got a job in racing and had to work hard to get my license.

“I was apprenticed to Richard Hughes and I raced over there for four years and I had 26 winners with over 300 rides.”

Still in the process of establishing himself among New Zealand’s jockey ranks, Jones is looking forward to forming new relationships with trainers around the country and he said his riding agent Sam Durrant has been a big assist early on.

“I am glad I have Sam Durrant as my manager, he speaks highly of me to owners and trainers,” Jones said. “We get on really well and everything has been going well so far.”

Jones is hoping to add to his win tally at Rotorua on Saturday where he will have two rides, including Pacheco in the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) and Dunamis in the Atkinson And Donaldson 1215.

“The three-year-old (Dunamis) has had a nice few trials,” Jones said. “We have a good draw (4), I can’t see why this horse couldn’t run a good race.

“I rode Pacheco at Te Rapa over a mile. He travelled well throughout the race and got into the home straight and made up good ground. I think the 2200m on Saturday is going to be right up his alley and hopefully he can run a competitive race.”

Jones said he is enjoying his time in New Zealand and he is looking to make the move permanent.

“I am loving my time over here,” he said. “I have a great bunch of people around me and I have made a lot of new friends. This will definitely be where I am based from now on."