Chris Dell
Trish Dunell
New Zealand apprentice Chris Dell is keen to extend his apprenticeship to continue benefiting from opportunities in Queensland.
The twenty three-year-old recorded 96 wins, including two black-type victories, before heading to Queensland in early March on loan to Eagle Farm trainer David Murphy.
It took until his 13th ride to kick home a winner in Queensland —Mishani El Lobo at Caloundra—but last week he was on fire with three wins over three racedays.
The winning streak began when he celebrated his first metropolitan win on the Lawrie Mayfield-Smith-trained Moss Harry at Doomben on Wednesday. He then won on the Murphy-trained Alassak two days later at Ipswich and rounded off the week with a win on Moss Harry's stablemate, Rum'n' Song at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
"It was great getting my first city win on Moss Harry," said Dell. "He's the first favourite I've ridden since I've been here. I had four rides over those three days and got three winners and a third so it was a great strike rate."
Though he has no apprentice allowance at provincial meetings, Dell is able to claim 3kg at metropolitan meetings and he's keen to continue to take advantage of the allowance.
"I've got three more wins before I lose my three kilo claim in the city and then it drops to two kilos," he said. "I'm on loan to David Murphy until June 1, but I'd like to stay.
"I come out of my time in August, but I will be applying to try and extend it – just like Rory Hutchings and Michael Dee did when they came to Australia.
"I love it here in Brisbane and I'm starting to get more opportunities. I'm at the track every morning and ride work for Robert Heathcote then my boss and others like Lawrie Mayfield-Smith.
"I do a lot of work for Lawrie and do a lot of jumpouts for him. It's all starting to work out."
The win on Moss Harry wasn't all celebrations for Dell. He also copped a suspension which ruled him out until after Anzac Day.
Dell's association with the Mayfield-Smith stable was initiated by fellow Kiwi jockey Maija Vance.
"He is Maija's ex-boss and when I first got over here Maija was a great help to me," said Dell. "She pointed out who I should be riding work for and which trainers use apprentices."
Dell has been keeping close tabs on the results from New Zealand, especially the Auckland Cup win of El Soldado. "I rode him before I came over here," said Dell.– NZ Racing Desk
The twenty three-year-old recorded 96 wins, including two black-type victories, before heading to Queensland in early March on loan to Eagle Farm trainer David Murphy.
It took until his 13th ride to kick home a winner in Queensland —Mishani El Lobo at Caloundra—but last week he was on fire with three wins over three racedays.
The winning streak began when he celebrated his first metropolitan win on the Lawrie Mayfield-Smith-trained Moss Harry at Doomben on Wednesday. He then won on the Murphy-trained Alassak two days later at Ipswich and rounded off the week with a win on Moss Harry's stablemate, Rum'n' Song at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
"It was great getting my first city win on Moss Harry," said Dell. "He's the first favourite I've ridden since I've been here. I had four rides over those three days and got three winners and a third so it was a great strike rate."
Though he has no apprentice allowance at provincial meetings, Dell is able to claim 3kg at metropolitan meetings and he's keen to continue to take advantage of the allowance.
"I've got three more wins before I lose my three kilo claim in the city and then it drops to two kilos," he said. "I'm on loan to David Murphy until June 1, but I'd like to stay.
"I come out of my time in August, but I will be applying to try and extend it – just like Rory Hutchings and Michael Dee did when they came to Australia.
"I love it here in Brisbane and I'm starting to get more opportunities. I'm at the track every morning and ride work for Robert Heathcote then my boss and others like Lawrie Mayfield-Smith.
"I do a lot of work for Lawrie and do a lot of jumpouts for him. It's all starting to work out."
The win on Moss Harry wasn't all celebrations for Dell. He also copped a suspension which ruled him out until after Anzac Day.
Dell's association with the Mayfield-Smith stable was initiated by fellow Kiwi jockey Maija Vance.
"He is Maija's ex-boss and when I first got over here Maija was a great help to me," said Dell. "She pointed out who I should be riding work for and which trainers use apprentices."
Dell has been keeping close tabs on the results from New Zealand, especially the Auckland Cup win of El Soldado. "I rode him before I came over here," said Dell.– NZ Racing Desk