Kelsey Hannan is desperate to make up for lost time and will have a number of opportunities to further her cause at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The 20-year-old has a strong book of seven rides to continue her return from a lengthy break after breaking a wrist in a fall at Riccarton in February.
At that time, Hannan had ridden 49 winners to sit fifth on the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership and was nine clear in the race for the apprentices’ crown.
Now in eighth spot on the senior ladder, she is currently third behind Tayla Mitchell in her chase for the apprentices’ title, which is her main focus.
“It’s been my goal since the start of the season and now I’ve got to get busy to try and get as many winners as I can,” she said.
Hannan closed the gap to five after posting her first success since returning from injury aboard Heart Of Gold on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Wednesday.
“I’m so stoked to be back, it’s been a long wait that’s for sure and I’m really happy to be back in action,” she said.
Hannan’s rides at Te Rapa include three for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman, who has been a strong supporter.
“I’m very thankful that’s he’s helped me out so much and happy to be back on his team, it’s awesome,” she said.
“Sporting Chance will appreciate my claim (2kg) and he’s been running really well in his last few races so I think he will go close.”
The son of Dundeel will step out in the Animal Feed Barn Handicap (2100m) and has a win and three placings from his last five outings, including a most recent third at Rotorua over 1550m and will appreciate a step up in trip.
Hannan, who is apprenticed to Shaun Phelan, also rides Russian Satire in the Champion Freight Maiden (1200m) and Oneroa in the Nutritech Handicap (1400m) for Forsman.
The former finished in the top four in all three runs before a break and ran second for Hannan in a recent trial while Oneroa was runner-up in her Otaki return last time out and has a brace of wins and a placing from three previous second-up attempts.
Another leading hope for Hannan at Te Rapa is the Jim Pender-trained Gospodin, who will bid for two wins on the bounce in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap (1300m) following success on the course earlier this month.
“I think Gospodin is a really nice chance, he’s got a big weight (59kg), but he’s very tough,” she said.
Her other mounts include Librarsi for Allan Sharrock in the Jarvis Trading 3YO (1100m), the Mark Forbes-trained Fakeittillumakeit in the Jones Trucking Mile (1600m) and Lingjun Hero for Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard in the PGG Wrightson Grain Handicap (1300m).
The resuming Librarsi is the interesting runner of that trio having attained a good level last preparation with a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1200m).