Riddell returns to NZ to reunite with Toa Haka

The last time Amber Riddell returned from Australia she picked up a big cheque aboard Toa Haka (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Riccarton, and on Wednesday she is hoping to do the same.

Last season’s Champion New Zealand Apprentice Jockey has been based in Sydney for the last couple of months, where she is working for expat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker, but she has returned to Christchurch this week for a hit-and-run mission to ride Toa Haka in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m).

She rode the son of Iffraaj to victory in the $350,000 Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) in April after competing in the NARS series in Brisbane, and trainer David Walsh was keen to reunite the pair, and he broached the subject with Riddell earlier this month.

“It all came about a couple of weeks ago when David Walsh rang me and asked if I would go back and ride Toa Haka,” Riddell said. “I know the horse, the weekend I flew back from Brisbane I won the Southern Alps on him, and he has got a light weight, so he was really keen to have me back on him.

“I am just riding tomorrow and flying back (to Sydney) the next day.”

Riddell has kept tabs on the seven-year-old gelding and was impressed with his last start fourth placing in the TAB Mile Prelude (1400m), and she said she has received positive reports from Walsh.

“He has taken a few runs this time in, but his last run was very good and Walshy said he is feeling great, and he should be peaking for tomorrow,” Riddell said. “I am very happy with his barrier draw (2) as well.”

Riddell has also secured the ride on the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Cape Horn (All Too Hard), who she rode to victory at Riccarton in September, in the in the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (1000m)

“I won on him last start,” Riddell said. “I think he might have been my last winner before I moved to Aussie, so it is good to be back riding him and for the Pitmans, who have been great supporters of mine.”

Riddell arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday afternoon, and while she wasn’t impressed with the damp conditions, she said it felt like returning home.

“Riccarton is a special place, it feels like home coming down here,” she said. “The weather is not too great, but hopefully it is better tomorrow.”

Riddell is now two months into a three-month loan to Baker from Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta, and she said she is enjoying her time across the Tasman.

“I am loving it,” she said. “I have been there for a couple of months, and I have had three wins since I have been there. I rode a back-to-back double at Orange and then my last winner was at Kembla Grange on Regal, and she won by seven lengths.”

While Riddell has yet to win in the city, she has enjoyed competing on some of the biggest days in Sydney this spring.

“I have had a couple of placings at metro level at Rosehill, but I am still yet to get a city winner,” she said. “I have had a lot of good opportunities like riding on Epsom Day at Randwick and Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick. They were great opportunities to ride against the best jockeys. It has been a great learning experience for me.”

Riddell has also enjoyed being a part of Baker’s thriving Warwick Farm stable, with the team enjoying plenty of success over spring.

“We have got 130 horses in work, and it has been awesome to be a part of the spring carnival,” she said. “The team has had a lot of success; it has been great. All the staff there have been amazing and it’s an awesome place to work.

“I get to ride with Rachel King and Jason Collett in track work a lot, which has been great.”

While Riddell is lapping up the experience professionally, she is also making the most of being in Sydney.

“It is a great city, I love the warmer weather and doing a bit of sightseeing,” she said. “There is something happening every day, it is pretty busy and full on, which I like.”