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Source: justhorseracing.com.au
Rising young apprentice Siena Grima has been a shining light on a wet and grey afternoon at Randwick, booting home her first metropolitan treble and outriding her three-kilo claim in the process.
Grima’s three winners were all for her master, trainer Chris Waller, the 23-year-old opening her account aboard Declichy Boulevard in the Taylor Construction Handicap (1400m) before adding victories aboard Tazima in the General Australia Handicap (2000m) and God’s Window in the Academy Brand Handicap (1600m).
All three horses darted through along the inside to score, and all overcame awkward draws, none more so than God’s Window who jumped from barrier 17 in the 18-strong field.
“I thought the horses were nice horse, my only concern was the terrible barriers,” Grima said.
“But they’ve really overcome it today and shown their class. It has been a really amazing day.”
Grima’s haul took her metropolitan tally to 20, meaning her city claim will be reduced to two kilos going forward.
She achieved the feat despite the testing conditions at Randwick with steady rain during the second half of the meeting leading to two track downgrades and making visibility poor, especially during God’s Window’s race.
“I actually couldn’t see at the 500,” Grima said.
“I just hoped I could get through again and when I pulled the goggles down, by then I had him primed and ready to go, and he continued to let down.”
Grima is mentored by Waller’s assistant, former champion jockey Darren Beadman, who was on hand for her red letter day.
He praised the young hoop’s dedication and work ethic and said she had been putting in the hard yards on the provincial circuit and deserved the rewards.
“I’m absolutely delighted for Siena, and for Chris to have the faith to keep putting her on. It’s fantastic,” Beadman said.
“She has been with us since the beginning of November and the last few months over the carnival she has been going to the provincials on a Saturday finding her craft.
“She is a hard worker, she hasn’t given us a day of trouble.
“She is learning off (fellow jockeys) Tommy Berry and James Mcdonald and having the good riders around to learn off, she is making a very good fist of her career.”
Grima’s treble takes her to 19 Sydney metropolitan wins – her other coming in Queensland – moving her to within nine of last season’s champion apprentice Braith Nock in the race for this year’s title with just over two months of the racing term remaining.