Michael McNab (green cap) wins the Karaka 3YO Karaka on Raghu at Ellerslie
Trish Dunell
A focussed Michael McNab is enjoying his best season in the saddle and he has high hopes his run of form will see him match one of the riding feats of his father Chris.
The Cambridge jockey has formed a lucrative partnership with the Tony Pike-trained Raghu and they will continue their association in Saturday's Gr.2 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas on route to the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby.
"I couldn't be happier with the way things have been going," McNab said.
"I have struggled with my weight in the past, but I'm more disciplined now and it's under control."
McNab, who had 29 winners on the board before Wednesday's Te Aroha meeting, finished runner-up in his first race day ride on Raghu at Ellerslie.
They then won the Listed Karaka 3YO Mile and were narrowly beaten by the stablemate Rangipo in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas.
"I've always had confidence in the horse and he did a few things wrong in the Karaka Mile and was then unlucky in the Guineas when he was beaten by the bob of the head," McNab said.
He has no doubt that Raghu can master the 2400 metre trip of the Derby, a race his father Chris won aboard Jolly Jake in 1984.
"It would be nice to get the bragging rights," McNab said. "I can't see the distance as a problem, he completely switched off behind Rangipo the other day and he was going as fast at the 300 as he was at the winning post."
The weight issues that side-lined McNab, who rode his 150th career winner aboard Qikcat at Avondale last week, between 2007 and 2010, are well and truly behind him.
"I'm looking to ride at 52.5kg on Saturday so I'm working hard," he said.
McNab will be at his lightest to take the mount on Raghu's in-form stablemate Sacred Master in the Gr.2 Go Racing Syndications Avondale Cup. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge jockey has formed a lucrative partnership with the Tony Pike-trained Raghu and they will continue their association in Saturday's Gr.2 Auckland Eye Avondale Guineas on route to the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby.
"I couldn't be happier with the way things have been going," McNab said.
"I have struggled with my weight in the past, but I'm more disciplined now and it's under control."
McNab, who had 29 winners on the board before Wednesday's Te Aroha meeting, finished runner-up in his first race day ride on Raghu at Ellerslie.
They then won the Listed Karaka 3YO Mile and were narrowly beaten by the stablemate Rangipo in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas.
"I've always had confidence in the horse and he did a few things wrong in the Karaka Mile and was then unlucky in the Guineas when he was beaten by the bob of the head," McNab said.
He has no doubt that Raghu can master the 2400 metre trip of the Derby, a race his father Chris won aboard Jolly Jake in 1984.
"It would be nice to get the bragging rights," McNab said. "I can't see the distance as a problem, he completely switched off behind Rangipo the other day and he was going as fast at the 300 as he was at the winning post."
The weight issues that side-lined McNab, who rode his 150th career winner aboard Qikcat at Avondale last week, between 2007 and 2010, are well and truly behind him.
"I'm looking to ride at 52.5kg on Saturday so I'm working hard," he said.
McNab will be at his lightest to take the mount on Raghu's in-form stablemate Sacred Master in the Gr.2 Go Racing Syndications Avondale Cup. – NZ Racing Desk.