Nymph Monte
Trish Dunell
Glamour jockey Danielle Johnson is confident Nymph Monte is the horse to give her a first win in the New Zealand Cup.
Johnson guided the Grant Nicholson-trained five-year-old to a comfortable two and a-half length win in last Saturday's Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton to ensure favouritism for this weekend's Gr.3 Christchurch Casino 153rd New Zealand Cup (3200m) at the same track.
TAB bookmakers have made Nymph Monte a $2.20 favourite despite drawing out in barrier 17 for the Cup in the wake of his Metropolitan win and Johnson was just as confident.
"It was huge, his win," she said.
"He couldn't have been any more impressive and I'm looking forward to the Cup on Saturday. If he turns up in the same form, he's going to take some beating.
"He just keeps improving. From when I first rode him to getting back on him Saturday, you could just feel the difference – and he's maturing as a racehorse too. He was so dominant last weekend."
Johnson, who rode three winners on the first day of the carnival, will also shoot for Group One success at Riccarton on Saturday when she partners the Shaune Ritchie-trained Bella Gioia in the gavelhouse.com 44th NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m).
A winner of two of her five starts, Bella Gioia finished strongly for fourth in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings but was below her best when seventh in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa last month.
"I worked her last week and her work was phenomenal," Johnson said.
"I was a little disappointed with her run at Te Rapa but it seems they have resolved the issue from that race and she'll be a whole lot better chance going into this race judging by her work. She's been at the beach all week and with this forecast rain coming, that might play right into her favour."
Johnson's other feature mount at Riccarton is the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Lady Rossa, who is unbeaten in two trials appearances ahead of Saturday's Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) for two-year-olds.
"She's trialled quite nicely and she's definitely quite speedy," Johnson said.
Johnson has six rides at Dargaville on Friday, with the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced pair of Quintessentially and Schiaparelli her picks of the day. – NZ Racing Desk.
Johnson guided the Grant Nicholson-trained five-year-old to a comfortable two and a-half length win in last Saturday's Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton to ensure favouritism for this weekend's Gr.3 Christchurch Casino 153rd New Zealand Cup (3200m) at the same track.
TAB bookmakers have made Nymph Monte a $2.20 favourite despite drawing out in barrier 17 for the Cup in the wake of his Metropolitan win and Johnson was just as confident.
"It was huge, his win," she said.
"He couldn't have been any more impressive and I'm looking forward to the Cup on Saturday. If he turns up in the same form, he's going to take some beating.
"He just keeps improving. From when I first rode him to getting back on him Saturday, you could just feel the difference – and he's maturing as a racehorse too. He was so dominant last weekend."
Johnson, who rode three winners on the first day of the carnival, will also shoot for Group One success at Riccarton on Saturday when she partners the Shaune Ritchie-trained Bella Gioia in the gavelhouse.com 44th NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m).
A winner of two of her five starts, Bella Gioia finished strongly for fourth in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings but was below her best when seventh in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa last month.
"I worked her last week and her work was phenomenal," Johnson said.
"I was a little disappointed with her run at Te Rapa but it seems they have resolved the issue from that race and she'll be a whole lot better chance going into this race judging by her work. She's been at the beach all week and with this forecast rain coming, that might play right into her favour."
Johnson's other feature mount at Riccarton is the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Lady Rossa, who is unbeaten in two trials appearances ahead of Saturday's Listed Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes (1000m) for two-year-olds.
"She's trialled quite nicely and she's definitely quite speedy," Johnson said.
Johnson has six rides at Dargaville on Friday, with the Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced pair of Quintessentially and Schiaparelli her picks of the day. – NZ Racing Desk.