Riddell notches up century of wins
In just her second season in the professional jockey ranks, Amber Riddell brought up her 100th win at Hawera on Friday, and she was rapt to achieve the milestone so early in her career.
Riddell started competing in the amateur ranks, winning four races before progressing into an apprenticeship under Kevin Myers and subsequently transferred to Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta earlier this season.
It was on the Latta-trained Starpello that she rode her 100th winner, at her 900th start, but Riddell admitted she wasn’t sure whether she had won on the line and she was relieved when she heard her charge’s name called out first over the loudspeaker.
“I am really stoked to get it so early in my career,” Riddell said.
“I didn’t think I had won, I thought Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) had got it, so I was relieved to hear the judge call out our name as the winner.
“I have ridden that horse a few times before and he went really well two starts back where he should have won, he just got held up late.”
Friday began an action-packed weekend for Riddell, who flew down to Dunedin to ride at Wingatui’s Otago Classics Day meeting on Saturday before she was straight back on a place north to ride at Trentham on Sunday.
Riddell has been clocking up the frequent flyer points this season and the move to Palmerston North has made travelling around the country a lot more viable.
“I am travelling a lot this season, which I am really enjoying,” she said. “I love riding down south and the racing down there is pretty strong, and the fields are big and competitive.
“A lot of the South Island trainers have supported me and I have become a regular rider down there. I just want to continue riding as much as I can and continue to support the South Island.”
Her propensity to travel has also opened further opportunities, particularly at stakes level, and Riddell said her next goal is to attain an elusive stakes victory.
“I have also been getting more opportunities to ride in the Group and Listed races and on premier days,” she said. “I am still yet to win a big race, but that is my next goal I am hoping to achieve.”
Riddell said another positive of moving to Palmerston North is that she can ride work alongside her father, veteran jockey Jonathan Riddell, who she said has been a massive help in developing her skillset as a rider.
“I am enjoying being based at Awapuni and I am able to ride a lot of work with my Dad, which helps,” she said. “He has been really helpful and he goes over my raceday replays and gives me advice on what I could have done better.”
Riddell was also pleased to bring up her milestone in the same season that her father brought up one of his own.
“It happened in the same season that my Dad got his 1000th winner, so that is pretty special,” she said.
Reflecting on her 100 wins, Riddell was quick to thank her supporters over the last couple of years.
“I am really grateful to all of the owners and trainers who have given me opportunities and have helped me out in my career so far, especially the ones who put me on when I was first starting out,” she said. “I want to repay them by riding winners and getting the best possible result for them in every race.”
Riddell recorded her 101st win later on the card at Hawera, and she is hoping to further add to that tally when she heads to Riccarton on Wednesday where she has a handful of rides, and she is particularly upbeat about the chances of the Stephanie Faulkner-trainer Bodleian in the Book A Suite For Autumn Racing (1400m).
“He has come first and second in his last two starts, so he should go well,” she said.
