Champion apprentice Siena Grima is on the verge of crossing another significant item off her bucket list, preparing for her inaugural ride at the prestigious The Everest day meeting.
The past twelve months have been a whirlwind for Grima. Since transferring her indentures to premier trainer Chris Waller late last year, a dream scenario in itself, Grima has capitalised on every opportunity. She claimed the Sydney apprentices’ title and achieved a Group 1 victory in the Epsom Handicap aboard God’s Window on her very first Group 1 ride.
The connections of God’s Window have shown immense faith, retaining the junior jockey for Saturday’s substantial $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, a prospect Grima is still processing.
“I thought maybe one day in my career I might get a chance to ride in a Group One, let alone have won one already,” Grima commented. “So to go again in another one and on a brilliant horse like him against Autumn Glow and Pride of Jenni and Militarise, it’s very exciting. Twelve months ago I was still in the bush.”
On Everest day last year, Grima was competing at the NSW provincial meeting at Newcastle and watched the Sydney racing action from the jockeys’ room there. She was still apprenticed to her initial trainer, Tamworth’s Mel O’Gorman, who she credits for her early development before Grima caught the attention of Waller and his assistant trainer, former champion jockey Darren Beadman.
Beadman is her intended source of advice for Saturday’s race. Considering the presence of the fast mare Pride Of Jenni, the race is expected to be run at a vigorous pace, and the small field will demand considerable tactical acumen.
“Darren’s expertise is on another level, so I’d love to be able to sit down with them. I’d say I will beforehand, and then again just before we go out, have another little conversation, see what Chris wants to do as well and judge the best path forward,” Grima stated. “But if I can hold a comfortable spot closer than where he normally races and travel well, I know him well enough to know when to get on my bike. I was glad to see a nice barrier draw for him. He can jump well so he can put himself in a nice spot. Obviously, Pride Of Jenni is in it, so that will make it a real spectacle, a real test of stamina, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
God’s Window began his racing career in England, and Grima was the first Australian jockey to partner him when he debuted locally 13 months ago. She has ridden the gelding in half of his 12 starts for Waller. While her intimate knowledge of the horse has no doubt influenced her retaining the mount, Grima understands the magnitude for an apprentice to secure a ride in a six-horse contest for a $5 million, weight-for-age race.
“The fact I know him so well did play a part in me picking up the ride,” she admitted. “But to be put back on him in such a big race is confidence filling. He’s come back a really nice horse this ‘prep’. His first-up run was enormous and then he backed that up into the Epsom and put in such a big run. I was worried that might have taken it out of him, but I’ve seen him over the last few days at trackwork and he’s feeling enormous, so I’m really excited to see how he will go.”
God’s Window represents one of three rides for Grima at Randwick, with Miss Black Betty in the Group 3 Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) and Estremo in the final race also on her card.
Betting sites are offering competitive racing odds for the King Charles III Stakes.