Wynne excited by Mongolian sojourn

Samantha Wynne.
Samantha Wynne.
The conditions Samantha Wynne will ride in at today's Riccarton meeting will be a world away from an exciting challenge she faces in a month's time.

Early net month the jockey will trade the mud and cold of New Zealand's winter racing scene for the dirt and dust of Inner Mongolia's synthetic track after being invited to race at the Chinese course.

The invitation came from Inner Mongolia billionaire chief horse racing enthusiast Lin Lang.

He races horses in Australasia under the Mongolian name prefix and is the driving force behind his home region's huge investment in racing.

Lin Lang effectively started racing in Inner Mongolia by exporting 65 New Zealand horses in 2012 to compete at a racetrack he built.

Wynne was thrilled to be asked to take part in a two-race series the club is holding early next month.

''You can't buy experience. I won't turn it down - I will give it a crack,'' she said.

''I go over there for just under a week.''

At the same Inner Mongolian meeting last year, regular South Island rider Alysha Collett won the inaugural running of the New Zealand Bloodstock Cup.

Before she packs her bags, Wynne will be looking to hone her riding skills and add to her 60 wins this season.

The jockey rode trackwork on the Michael Boyle-trained Lord Beaver before his first race since April at Riccarton today and she liked what she felt.

''I galloped him the other day; the horse looked a million dollars.

''He feels really well. He was by himself so he didn't overdo it.

''It is a competitive little field, but I am happy with the fella I am on.''

The lightly tried 5yr-old has had three starts on heavy footing for two wins, which only add to his winning claims in race 6.

The Kevin Myers-trained Chic had her first run in over a month at Timaru last week and should present a better prospect for Wynne in race 8 today.

''You couldn't get back at Timaru. She pulled pretty hard.''

''She is really well and has come through that run fantastically and being a Kevin Myers horse, you have to respect it.''

Wynne thinks the likelihood of a very heavy track by race time today should suit the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Fun Fair in race 2, despite the race's 1000m distance looking short of her best.

''On paper you would think 1000m would be very short for her but the track is going to be bottomless [today] and like going further, so I think she will be strong to the line.''

Wynne partners two runners for trainers Ashburton trainers Danny Champion and Kezia Murphy today.

They have reported to her that Scooby is on target for race 4.

''They seem to be very happy with him.

''It is a big ask fresh up but Danny and Kezia will have him well presented.

''I think Stitch is the one to beat in that race.''

Wynne also rides Ahyum in race 7 for the Champion-Murphy stable.

''It finished third to Madam Libre, who has come out and won again and the horse that finished second [Jumeirah] has come out and won last week as well, so there is good form around it.

''Essdee is the one to beat.''

The jockey also rates Minerva as a horse who will enjoy today's conditions and ''a sneaky one to look out for'' in race 4, she said.

-By Jonny Turner

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