Wigram scurries away to first win

South Auckland apprentice jockey Tom Wigram is currently on cloud nine after riding home his first winner at New Plymouth on Friday.

He scored the win aboard Bridie (NZ) (Ocean Park) for local trainer Allan Sharrock in the Naki Plumbing And Gas (1600m), Wigram’s first ride of the day at the annual Platinum Homes Taranaki Apprentice Raceday, which was unfortunately abandoned following the starting gates malfunctioning at the start of race four.

Wigram’s first win comes less than a week after his debut ride at Ellerslie last Saturday, and he was delighted to get on the board so early in his career.

“I am really rapt, it’s great to get my first win,” Wigram said. “I didn’t expect it to come this early, but it did and it was awesome.”

His charge had been working towards a win, having placed in her first two starts, and Wigram was pleased to deliver the desired result for her connections.

“The horse jumped super and we sat in behind in midfield,” Wigram said. “Coming around the bend I had plenty of horse underneath me, I just had to find somewhere to get out and as soon as I came back in and got a run she came home really well.”

The 16-year-old has been riding his entire life, but it was experiencing the thrill of competing in the LOVERACING.NZ Pony Scurry Series that lit a fuse to pursue a career as a jockey.

“From when I was about five I rode ponies and every weekend we went show jumping,” Wigram said. “I wasn’t hugely successful, but I loved horses and the thrill of going fast and jumping.

“I saw the pony scurries come up and I thought ‘what better way to get into it (racing)’.

“The pony scurries is a very good initiative, it was very popular and it still is. It was a good introduction to racing.”

Wigram naturally progressed to riding track work before he started to work for Byerley Park trainer Donna Logan last year to pursue his apprenticeship.

“I used to go down to Cambridge during the school holidays to ride track work,” Wigram said. “I rode a lot for Shaun Phelan and he has been super helpful, and Elen Nicholas (fellow apprentice jockey) has been great.

“My friend’s mother used to work for Donna years ago and when I was looking for somewhere to go she put me onto her and it has all gone from there.”

Wigram’s first win came at just his third ride, and he said he has learned a lot from each experience.

“From the first ride it opened my eyes to how it is more competitive than riding at the trials and I have learned heaps,” he said.

Wigram is hoping to quickly add to his win tally when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will have four rides, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of last-start winner Hasstobeawinner (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate 22/8 Mile (1600m) and the Shaun Phelan-trained Arjay's Flight (NZ) (Highly Recommended) in the Andrew (Ledge) Leadbeater Memorial (1300m).

“I am really looking forward to them all,” Wigram said.

“Hasstobeawinner is very exciting, he is a last start winner in open class, so I am very lucky to get the opportunity to ride him.

“Arjay’s Flight is resuming over a shorter distance and he goes well fresh, so hopefully he will be a good chance as well.”