Trish Dunell
Jonathan Riddell will be the new rider of New York Minute in the Gr.2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday and the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings.
New York Minute is unbeaten in her three starts since joining the Cambridge stable of top trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman this year and Lisa Allpress has been in the winning saddle on each occasion.
But Allpress has a prior commitment to the Fraser Auret-trained Sensible Princess in the Tarzino Trophy on September 1, requiring a new rider to be found for New York Minute in the weight-for-age Hawke’s Bay feature.
“We wanted someone who could also ride her in the Tarzino Trophy so we’ve got Jonathan,” Forsman said. “He knows her.”
Riddell rode New York Minute in her first trial for Baker and Forsman, when fourth at Cambridge in May, and has a good strike rate for the stable. He picked up his 33rd win for the partners when successful on Indigenous Union at Ruakaka on Sunday.
As well as her two Listed wins in the Tauranga Classic (1400m) and Opunake Cup (1400m), New York Minute has had three Group Three placings and two Listed placings, so a Group Two win this weekend would be a major boost to her worth.
“If she can even run a place this weekend it will help get her in the Tarzino,” Forsman said.