It was appropriate Owe The Ransom's long-awaited maiden win came with apprentice jockey Doni Prastiyou aboard at Oamaru yesterday.
Because, as co-trainer John Parsons explains, the 5yr-old - who won at his 32nd start yesterday - has largely been continued as a racing proposition to give younger riders a kick start.''
We haven't had any illusions on the horse's ability, but he's been a horse we've kept in the stable to give the apprentices a bit of a start off.
The Parsons' apprentice, Gosen Jogoo, cut his teeth on the son of Handsome Ransom, as did former stable apprentice Agustina Comignaghi.
Another firm track at Oamaru might convince Parsons and wife Karen, who owns Owes The Ransom, to push on but John Parsons said they would watch the weather for the answer.
''He definitely needs better ground,'' he said.
''We'll probably have a bit of a let up, but as long as he can race on tracks that are firm. Even last time here [on April 22], the track was all right. But we're a bit undecided.''
Owe The Ransom is a home-bred thoroughbred, but a $145,000 purchase at the 2013 Karaka yearling sales has found her niche in the deep South.
Good Bye Senorita was having her second start in the South when tackling 1400m yesterday, after three unplaced starts for Cambridge trainer Roger James.
The daughter of Thorn Park was sent to Steven Anderton's Wingatui stables but, after Anderton's fatal accident in early February, Good Bye Senorita was transferred to Terry Kennedy.
Kennedy and wife Debbie were not at the meeting, as they are on holiday in Hawaii.
