Young riders Siena Grima and Braith Nock are locked in an intense battle for the Sydney apprentices premiership, with the competition heating up at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Nock has held the lead for a significant portion of the season, but Grima has recently surged forward. Her impressive treble at Royal Randwick last Saturday, guiding Tazima, Perfect Justice, and Benevac to victory, has elevated her to 33 wins, establishing a three-win lead with only five meetings remaining.
Grima enjoys the support of the leading Chris Waller stable, which has provided her with four rides at the mid-week fixture. These include Aurora Boom ($7) in the opening event, the Racing And Sports Plate (1100m).
Her other mounts for the Waller stable are Leonessa ($19) in the Robrick Lodge Plate (1100m), Snitzel Miss ($10) in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m), and Full Hao ($10) in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap (1600m).
Grima is also scheduled to ride Dusty Bay ($5) for trainer Tracey Bartley in the TAB Handicap (1400m). She will also partner Stormland ($9.50) from Ciaron Maher’s stable in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap (1100m) and Brannum ($71), trained by Theresa Bateup, in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m).
Grima is in contention to become only the fourth female apprentice to claim the Sydney premiership, following the achievements of Rachel King (2017/18), Winona Costin (2014-15), and Kathy O’Hara (2004-05).
Nock, however, is keen to reignite his title defence with six rides at Warwick Farm, each representing a different trainer. His most promising contenders are likely to be Deep Pleasure ($6), prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap, and Let’s Go Again ($7.50) for the Kerry Parker stable in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap.
Nock’s other engagements include Divine Offering ($21) for Peter Snowden in the Racing And Sports Plate, Gone To Gowings ($23) from the Clarry Conners stable in the Robrick Lodge Plate, the Joel Wilkes-trained Danish Fortune ($13) in the Agency Real Estate Handicap, and Voracious, trained by Mack Griffith, in the TAB Handicap.
Nock is aiming to join an exclusive club of jockeys who have won multiple Sydney apprentice premierships in this century.
The history books show Zac Lloyd secured successive Sydney titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Robbie Dolan achieved the same in 2018-19 and 2019-20, while Sam Clipperton won back-to-back premierships in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Mitch Newman claimed his second title in 2000-01, following an earlier win in 1998-99.
Meanwhile, Chris Waller, who has already amassed 176 wins this season, is also chasing a record at the Warwick Farm meeting.
The Hall of Fame trainer requires an additional 13 victories to match his personal best for the most Sydney wins in a season, a mark of 189 winners he achieved in 2017-18.
Waller has runners in five races on Wednesday, including Saloon Passage, who is the $3 favourite for the Asahi Super Dry Handicap.
The Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap presents an interesting betting opportunity, with many looking to secure the best racing odds.
