Direen (22) leaves for a European holiday on Friday, and would like to depart on a high as she gets set to join older sister Megan for a trip around the continent.
Megan Direen and partner Casey Tippet left Wingatui last winter and are working at stables in Somerset in the southwest of England.
‘‘Their stable shuts down over the summer because the jumpers are all out and they all go on holiday, so that's why we picked late April,'' Direen said.
Direen and her mother travel to Singapore before meeting her sister and Tippet in London.
‘‘We go down to Greece then Italy and France then back to London.''
Direen will be back in time to ride at the Oamaru Jockey Club meeting at Oamaru on May 27.
Before she leaves, she would like to add to her eight wins this season.
‘‘I would have liked some more winners but I'm getting enough rides each meeting so that just keeps me going. Whatever I can get is a bonus. It's harder ... coming out of the apprentice ranks.''
Dancing Dixie could slip under the radar in race 2, particularly with her stablemate, Patrick Erin, likely to start favourite.
However, the chestnut filly has impressed Direen in her jumpouts and track work before her debut over 1200m today.
‘‘She was doing it all under own steam,'' Direen said of her jumpout win on April 19.
‘‘She's actually shown a lot more speed than I thought she had. Tomorrow she's got a good draw and a little bit of rain will help her.'
'Dancing Dixie will probably move into barrier 4, giving Direen the chance to take up a nice spot from the 1200m start point.
‘‘Hopefully, we'll get just in behind the leaders, get a good run and educate her a wee bit, then we'll see what she can do.''
Galella is back over the longer trip which provided her with a maiden win when she takes on her rating 65 rivals over 2200m.
The daughter of Gallant Guru cleared maidens over 2000m at Wyndham in March, before resuming with a fifth over the sprint trip at Riverton 2 weeks ago.
‘‘That was only over 1200m so she went huge,'' Direen said.
‘‘She's always honest, so you imagine she would be there in the finish somewhere. Stepping back up to 2200m tomorrow will suit her.''
The 5yr-old has drawn one gate from the outside, but Direen is confident of getting handy from the wide draw.
‘‘She normally jumps out of the gates pretty well and we'll just get a nice spot in behind the leaders.''
Theo (race 6) needs a scratching to get into the 1600m maiden, sitting first on the ballot.
‘‘He's quite a laid-back type of horse so that's why we put him first-up over a mile. He's going to want more ground and a wet track. Whatever he does tomorrow, he's going to improve some more off that.''
Tips from the talent
Jake Lowry
Patrick Erin (race 2, No 1)
Courtney Barnes
Lifesahighway (race 6, No 13)
Kelvin Tyler
The Energizer (race 5, No 3)
Terry Kennedy
Janefield Jewel (race 2, No 6)
Shane Anderton
Gallant Dan (race 7, No 2)
