Catherine Cameron
Race Images
A couple of new Cambridge-based license-holders celebrated their first wins at Tauranga on Saturday, but only one of them was on course for the special occasion.
Catherine Cameron saddled up Light Shadow, her first starter as a permit-to-train license holder, to win the BOP Punter Of The Year 1400, while Nick Smith was credited with his first New Zealand training success with MeeskaMooska in the Mico's - Steve's Plumbing & Gas 2100.
Smith, who trains in partnership with Graham Thomas, watched the Trackside coverage of MeeskaMooska's win from Riccarton, where he was in charge of the Stephen Marsh-trained Seize The Moment, who finished the closest of seconds in the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup.
"I've ridden work for Stephen for a long time and it was a busy time for him with horses everywhere so he asked me if I could take Seize The Moment to Riccarton," said Smith.
"We thought he (MeeskaMooska) would go well and he won it easily.
"We've been waiting to get him over ground. You won't see the best of him until he's over 2000 metres-plus."
MeeskaMooska was having his second start beyond 1600m and he preceded the Tauranga win with a close third over 2000m at Matamata.
Smith has been training with Thomas since January and a win for the pair was on the cards after a spate of recentplacings. From the previous five starters, the pair had picked up a second and three thirds.
MeeskaMooska's win came a day after Smith's daughter, Emma, outrode her 4kg claim when winning on Masabio at Dargaville. The promising apprentice is indentured to Murray Baker.
An Englishman, Smith was a successful jumps jockey with 182 wins to his credit before dabbling in training in England.
An accomplished show-jumping rider, Cameron was issued with her permit-to-train license on April 6. She has been associated with many winners from the Gary Alton stable and experienced highlights with dual Group One winner Historian. They were moments she will always cherish, but right up there is last Saturday's win with Light Shadow, a six-year-old she races with Alton and Shirley Fung, from Hong Kong.
"He's always had any amount of ability but he's also had plenty of issues, too," said Cameron. "I'm rapt to get my first win with him."
Light Shadow began his career in the Alton stable and was a "real handful" early on, he then headed to Hong Kong but never raced there. After changing trainers in Hong Kong and being trialled unsuccessfully, Light Shadow's future in Hong Kong was over and that's when Fung offered Alton and Cameron shares in him.
Light Shadow was third on debut behind the talented Red Striker at Te Rapa in November 2014 and won his next two starts at Ellerslie. His record now reads 19 starts for three wins and six placings.– NZ Racing Desk
Catherine Cameron saddled up Light Shadow, her first starter as a permit-to-train license holder, to win the BOP Punter Of The Year 1400, while Nick Smith was credited with his first New Zealand training success with MeeskaMooska in the Mico's - Steve's Plumbing & Gas 2100.
Smith, who trains in partnership with Graham Thomas, watched the Trackside coverage of MeeskaMooska's win from Riccarton, where he was in charge of the Stephen Marsh-trained Seize The Moment, who finished the closest of seconds in the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup.
"I've ridden work for Stephen for a long time and it was a busy time for him with horses everywhere so he asked me if I could take Seize The Moment to Riccarton," said Smith.
"We thought he (MeeskaMooska) would go well and he won it easily.
"We've been waiting to get him over ground. You won't see the best of him until he's over 2000 metres-plus."
MeeskaMooska was having his second start beyond 1600m and he preceded the Tauranga win with a close third over 2000m at Matamata.
Smith has been training with Thomas since January and a win for the pair was on the cards after a spate of recentplacings. From the previous five starters, the pair had picked up a second and three thirds.
MeeskaMooska's win came a day after Smith's daughter, Emma, outrode her 4kg claim when winning on Masabio at Dargaville. The promising apprentice is indentured to Murray Baker.
An Englishman, Smith was a successful jumps jockey with 182 wins to his credit before dabbling in training in England.
An accomplished show-jumping rider, Cameron was issued with her permit-to-train license on April 6. She has been associated with many winners from the Gary Alton stable and experienced highlights with dual Group One winner Historian. They were moments she will always cherish, but right up there is last Saturday's win with Light Shadow, a six-year-old she races with Alton and Shirley Fung, from Hong Kong.
"He's always had any amount of ability but he's also had plenty of issues, too," said Cameron. "I'm rapt to get my first win with him."
Light Shadow began his career in the Alton stable and was a "real handful" early on, he then headed to Hong Kong but never raced there. After changing trainers in Hong Kong and being trialled unsuccessfully, Light Shadow's future in Hong Kong was over and that's when Fung offered Alton and Cameron shares in him.
Light Shadow was third on debut behind the talented Red Striker at Te Rapa in November 2014 and won his next two starts at Ellerslie. His record now reads 19 starts for three wins and six placings.– NZ Racing Desk