Hall of Fame jockey Darren Beadman gave emerging apprentice Siena Grima some simple advice before her ride on Tazima at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“Tazima has drawn ‘bad’ so go back and ride for luck,” Beadman said.
“You got the turn through on Declichy Boulevard near the inside so copy and paste that ride and try to do the same on Tazima.”
Grima followed those instructions perfectly and guided Tazima to a narrow win in the General Australia Handicap (2000m).
Tazima ($5) came through underneath his rivals late to score by a nose from favourite King Of The Sea ($2.70) with a half neck to Starzintheireyes ($6).
She produced a virtual carbon copy ride to her winning effort on Declichy Boulevard just 35 minutes earlier in the Taylor Construction Handicap (1400m) – settling back in the field, staying close to the inside and finding the shortest way home.Remarkably, Grima then used the same tactics in the very next race to win in God’s Window in the Academy Brand Handicap (1600m) to complete a hat-trick of wins.
It gave Grima, 23, her first city treble with all three horses trained by Chris Waller, who she is now apprenticed to.
In fact, Tazima was her first winner for Waller when she rode him to win on the Kensington track back in August.
Tazima had all 11 rivals in front of him on the turn but Grima heeded Beadman’s advice and rode for luck.
“They have been coming off the fence the whole day and I knew I would get the run through,” Grima said.
“I just wanted to fill him with confidence and let him build into the race.”
Tazima and King Of The Sea were wide apart on the line and opinions were divided on who would get the judge’s verdict – although Grima was convinced she had won.
“Tazima is very competitive and likes to win as much as me – the 52kg certainly helped,” she said.
