After riding all three Gr 3 winners at Newcastle last week, star provincial rider Jeff Penza has been given two upcoming Gr 1 rides.
But, because he rides outside the city bubble he will have to quarantine for a week in order to be available.
He has chosen to do so, along with Jason Collett’s sister Alysha who rode three winners at Orange on Monday and Winona Costin, who ran 3rd in the Gr 1 Epsom last year.
All three can ride at light weights and with the jockey shortage about to hit the major race days, lightweight riders are in demand.
Penza, could not believe the day he had at Newcastle last week. Nor could anyone else.
He was legged up on MADAM LEGEND (I Am Invincible – Mithila) in the $160,000 Tibbie and she saluted at $9.50 for trainer Les Bridge.
In the very next race, the $250,000 Newcastle Gold Cup, he rode GREAT HOUSE (Galileo – Anja) at $13 to victory, then before the afterglow of glory had subsided, he came straight back out and rode ASHMAN (Magnus – Ashamika) to an all the way win in the $160,000 Cameron Handicap.
All big prices and all rewards for a stellar career.
But better is on the horizon with Chris Waller today announcing Penza will ride Great House in the Gr 1 Metrop and Kim Waugh says Penza will be on board Ashman in the upcoming Gr 1 Epsom.
As for Collett she is in demand and in great touch too.
She, like Costin, can ride light and she did guide multiple Gr 1 winner DUAIS (Shamus Award – Meerlust) home into 3rd behind Ashman in the Cameron last start.
Sydney needs lightweight hoops to ride during the carnival and the big handicap races like the $1million Epsom, where Costin rode the current Epsom 2nd favourite RIODINI ( Proisir – Giardini) into 3rd place are the targets for these gifted, hard-working riders.