Marieke Simons had an afternoon to remember at Woodville on Sunday, riding her first winner as an amateur aboard a horse she trains and co-owns in Ride The Tide.
The Awapuni horsewoman had competed on 11 previous occasions in amateur races dating back to the 2013/14 season, and after five years away from race-day riding, she made her return in this season’s Flair Amateurs Series Final (2200m).
The country’s top amateur jockey Scotty Macnab had his sixth series title all parcelled up prior to the Final, while Caitlin McKee, who won this season’s Duke of Gloucester Cup (2100m), had the ride on Sunday’s race favourite in Carignan.
Ride The Tide was rated an $8.50 chance at the jump and eventually settled near the tail of the field, while Carignan and Notabadbar matched motors in front along the back stretch. Simons allowed Ride The Tide to slide up on the outside from the 600m and he cruised into contention, fighting off a game Brucie to score in a tight finish by a head.
Simons was delighted to pick up her first success in the series, particularly aboard a horse of her own.
“It was awesome, good fun and makes it all worthwhile,” she said.
“I probably had a Plan A, B, C and D, and one of them must’ve worked. You need a bit of luck and it’s hard enough just to get out there with your horse, so when it all comes together, it’s great.
“It’s all well and good giving someone else the ride, but going out there and doing it yourself is pretty special.
“It half panned out as I anticipated, but the horse tried hard and he’s a pretty cool lad.”
Simons purchased the son of Darci Brahma for $1000 via gavelhouse.com in February of 2022, with his 16 starts resulting in two wins, five minor placings and over $45,000 in stakes earnings.
“He’s a bit of a character with plenty of attitude about him, he’s about 600 kilograms so he’s a big boy,” Simons said.
“He’s lovely and always gives every race a good go, making him pretty fun to train. He’s been a really good buy, he’s part of my family now.
“I train him from Awapuni Racecourse and I’ve got a great support crew around me, including my mum, she’s a vet and is a brilliant help.
“I really enjoy getting up in the mornings and doing the horses, it keeps you going and it’s quite rewarding when a day like this happens.
“I track ride as well to pay for my horse, at the moment I mostly ride for Roydon Bergerson and he helps me out too so it works really well.
“I’ve been involved in racing for about the past ten years, but it’s my hobby really. I have a full-time job so the horses are just some fun on the side and something I’m really passionate about.”
The seven-year-old is out of Spring Cheer, a winner of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) who produced a recent hurdle winner in Road Runner. A fan of the sport, Simons hopes to set Ride The Tide on a similar path in the near future.
“My ultimate goal as a trainer would be to have a horse in a jumping race and winning that,” Simons said.
“He’s a full brother to Road Runner, a horse that Kevin Myers had and he jumps well, so I thought I’d give my horse a go at that too. Last week, he made it around the hurdles pretty well in schooling, so hopefully we can be ready to go for next season.
“The winter racing has such a lovely bunch of people involved, you go to races and everyone is friendly and wanting to help you out.”