Saturday’s Riccarton meeting is shaping up to be a busy afternoon for dual licenceholder Samantha Wynne.
Wynne has rides in six of the nine races, including four that she trains herself – Let Me Loose, Peecee Pussycat, Iffin Doubt Dance and Zacat.
Wynne has a small team in work at her Prebbleton base and has trained 10 winners since taking out her licence in the 2021-22 season. Seven of those wins have come in the last 12 months alone, including Peecee Pussycat’s back-to-back successes in his last two appearances.
The son of Pure Champion won a 2200m Rating 75 on Riccarton’s synthetic track on July 12, then stepped up to open company and delivered a repeat result in a $45,000 race over the same course and distance on August 7.
Peecee Pussycat will attempt to make it three in a row when he switches to Riccarton’s turf track to contest Saturday’s Group 1 Raceday Party 14 September Rating 75 (1800m).
“He had those two very nice wins on the synthetic,” Wynne said. “He’s been looking well and working well since his last run. We’ll see how he goes switching back to the turf on Saturday, but he’s definitely got some confidence from those couple of wins.”
Peecee Pussycat is raced by his breeders, Colin and Tina Nimmo, and is out of the Al Akbar mare Compact Pussycat. Notably, Wynne’s Riccarton team on Saturday also includes Peecee Pussycat’s half-sister Zacat.
Also bred and raced by the Nimmos, the six-year-old Zacinto mare has won three times in her 39-start career and heads into Saturday’s TAB Open Mile (1600m) with a second, three thirds and a fourth from her last five starts.
“Zacat has been racing so consistently in this preparation,” Wynne said. “I’ve been delighted with her since her last run. It’s a great field on Saturday, so if she can be in the top four or five again, we’ll be very happy.”
Wynne’s runner in the CJC Stallion Tender Open Now Rating 65 (1800m) is the formerly Cambridge Stud-owned Iffin Doubt Dance.
A dual winner in the North Island from Lance Noble’s stable, the Iffraaj mare relocated south during the winter and finished eighth over 1400m on July 26 before charging home for a close second over the same distance on August 10.
“I thought she ran a great race last time,” Wynne said. “That was a Heavy10 track and it’s going to be different track conditions this time, although it should still have some of the fire out of it.
“She’s done very well since her last run and I think she’ll relish the 1800m. It looks like a competitive race, so we’ll just be hoping for a bit of luck.”
Three-year-old filly Let Me Loose will kick off her career in the Vale Kevin Hickman Three-Year-Old (1000m). The daughter of Turn Me Loose has picked up a win and a placing from three trials, and Wynne has nominated her for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November.
“I love this little filly to bits,” she said. “She’s trialled well and is ready to go. She’s still a bit green and does some things wrong, but all that’s left to do with her now is take her to the races. I’ve got my fingers crossed that she has a good day out.
“She’s a lovely little filly and she’s probably going to be one to follow.”
Wynne also has a pair of outside rides, including the resuming Rhonda Wood in the NZ Cup Week Tickets on Sale 1 September Rating 75 (1200m).
Last seen when third over the same course and distance on New Zealand Cup Day last November, the Redwood mare has had a total of 17 starts for four wins and five placings. Wynne has formed a good partnership with the Bruce Tapper-trained mare, guiding her to a win and a placing from two starts so far.
“She’s such a cool mare and goes very well down that chute at Riccarton,” Wynne said. “It’s really nice to get the call to ride her again and I’m looking forward to it.”