Shaun McKay aboard Amarula
Race Images Palmerston North
Matamata apprentice Shaun McKay is within touching distance of outriding his apprentice claim.
But the 19-year-old has his eye on an even more coveted goal in the coming weeks.
McKay is just 10 wins from reaching 100 wins but such is the impact he has made this season, that he is poised to claim his first national apprentice premiership.
He has won 60 races already this season, 12 more than Samantha Wynne on 48, with Krishna Mudhoo back in third place on 38.
"Samantha Wynne being suspended for three weeks has helped me get a few wins clear," McKay said.
"I'm still thinking she's a chance of catching up but hopefully I can keep riding winners and stay on top."
McKay's 60 wins for the season has him in sixth place on the overall premiership and his improvement from 27 wins last year illustrates just how far he has come.
"My riding has improved a lot with the more rides I've had and I'm getting better rides now," he said.
"There's still a lot of improvement I've got to make yet, and that's something I'll keep working on, but I have strengthened up a lot and I feel I'm riding better races, thinking more about tactics and what I do in each race."
McKay takes inspiration from seeing the past three champion apprentices - Jason Collett, James McDonald and Rory Hutchings - all riding successfully in Sydney and he hopes to one day get the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.
"Seeing the ones who have won it does give me a lot of motivation. It's quite exciting seeing what they are doing now in Sydney and it's exciting to think that I might get that opportunity one day too.
"I'd like to do what they have done. I'd love to get a taste of riding overseas at some point."
Apprenticed to his father Peter at Matamata, McKay rates Amarula's win in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings last October as his season highlight.
"That was pretty special, especially to win it on one of Dad's horses," McKay said.
"Amarula had an operation to remove some bone chips from a knee but he's come back really well and I'm riding him in the open sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday. He's had a couple of runs back now so he's fit and he'll run well. He'll be an exciting prospect for next season.
"Dad's been my biggest supporter. He has put me on the most but I've had good support from a number of other trainers." - NZ Racing Desk.
But the 19-year-old has his eye on an even more coveted goal in the coming weeks.
McKay is just 10 wins from reaching 100 wins but such is the impact he has made this season, that he is poised to claim his first national apprentice premiership.
He has won 60 races already this season, 12 more than Samantha Wynne on 48, with Krishna Mudhoo back in third place on 38.
"Samantha Wynne being suspended for three weeks has helped me get a few wins clear," McKay said.
"I'm still thinking she's a chance of catching up but hopefully I can keep riding winners and stay on top."
McKay's 60 wins for the season has him in sixth place on the overall premiership and his improvement from 27 wins last year illustrates just how far he has come.
"My riding has improved a lot with the more rides I've had and I'm getting better rides now," he said.
"There's still a lot of improvement I've got to make yet, and that's something I'll keep working on, but I have strengthened up a lot and I feel I'm riding better races, thinking more about tactics and what I do in each race."
McKay takes inspiration from seeing the past three champion apprentices - Jason Collett, James McDonald and Rory Hutchings - all riding successfully in Sydney and he hopes to one day get the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.
"Seeing the ones who have won it does give me a lot of motivation. It's quite exciting seeing what they are doing now in Sydney and it's exciting to think that I might get that opportunity one day too.
"I'd like to do what they have done. I'd love to get a taste of riding overseas at some point."
Apprenticed to his father Peter at Matamata, McKay rates Amarula's win in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings last October as his season highlight.
"That was pretty special, especially to win it on one of Dad's horses," McKay said.
"Amarula had an operation to remove some bone chips from a knee but he's come back really well and I'm riding him in the open sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday. He's had a couple of runs back now so he's fit and he'll run well. He'll be an exciting prospect for next season.
"Dad's been my biggest supporter. He has put me on the most but I've had good support from a number of other trainers." - NZ Racing Desk.
