Race Images Palmerston North
Don’t expect Kiwi apprentice Rebecca Goldsbury to be rushing home the minute her three-month loan period expires with leading Queensland provincial trainer Ben Currie.
Goldsbury took the opportunity to broaden her riding experience by accepting an offer to ride for Currie from August 1 after successfully completing a three-week trial in late June. In that time, she has ridden ten provincial winners and by her own admission is having a “complete blast”.
“It’s really good here and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself,” she said.
“I loved the initial three weeks I had and when they asked me to stay on for another three months I jumped at the opportunity.
“I had been thinking about coming over and trying my luck in Australia and when I got the call to see whether I would be interested it seemed like the perfect time to take advantage of the offer.
“I rode for three weeks and then had two back at home before I flew back for the start of the new season.
“I love it here and with plenty of Kiwis riding or involved in stables I haven’t really been homesick just yet.”
Currie made the offer to Goldsbury on the recommendation of former Kiwi apprentice Josh Oliver, who had enjoyed a successful stint with the stable after transferring his apprenticeship to Currie back in September, 2015.
“Josh was at the end of his time so we were looking for someone to fill a similar role to the one he had played for us,” Currie said.
“He mentioned Rebecca so we gave her a call and got it organised.
“She has hit the ground running and enjoyed early success, which I think has been a real feather in her cap.
“We couldn’t be more delighted with the progress she has made and all we need now is for her to get her license to ride in the city and I think that will give her another big boost.”
Goldsbury is currently licensed to ride at provincial and country meetings where she can claim a 1.5-kilogram allowance. Once she is permitted to ride at the main city meetings, that allowance rises to 3 kilograms which should see her in hot demand.
“I have spoken with the authorities and that license should be coming through any day now,” Currie said.
“Having someone with Rebecca’s experience able to claim a decent allowance will be a real boost for our stable and any of the other trainers she has been able to get rides with of late.”
Currie clearly enjoys a “Kiwi” influence in his stable, including several promising gallopers he has sourced from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sales over the past few years.
“I’ve been a regular at Karaka for the last four or five years and we have had some good success, although we are by no means operating at the top end of the scale,” he said.
“We bought a filly called Isn’t She Elegant for $30,000 from Rich Hill Stud back in 2015 and she has won five races for us so far.
“She ran in the Queensland Oaks at the end of her last prep and is getting ready to come back for her four-year-old season.
“We have mainly bought staying types and have some lovely two and three-year-olds coming through so hopefully we can continue to build on the success we have had of late.” – NZ Racing Desk.