Chief Stipe Posted May 25 Share Posted May 25 Tayla Melvin was the 23rd apprentice to score their first win wearing the tangerine colours. Tayla rode Devoted to win Race 5 at Pukekohe today. I had the pleasure of meeting Tayla when she was the strapper for my mates 2yr old filly at Te Aroha. A charming polite young lady from the deep south (Otago) who has an infectious enthusiasm for the racing game. 20240525_135845.mp4 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted May 25 Share Posted May 25 Naturally....a southerner. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted May 25 Author Share Posted May 25 That Jaylah Kennedy is from Mosgiel as well and she is riding well at Sandown today. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted May 27 Author Share Posted May 27 ng Tayla Melvin pictured after riding her first winner at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Melvin guides first winner at Pukekohe Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted. The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third. With a further nine raceday rides under her belt, Melvin combined with the son of Contributer in the TAB NZ 2100, where he was rated a $16.30 chance after finishing strongly last-start for fourth under the young hoop at Rotorua. Devoted jumped fairly away from barrier seven and Melvin allowed the six-year-old to settle back at the tail of the 14-horse field, sitting three-wide in the heavy conditions. The gelding was travelling better than most turning for home, sweeping to the extreme outside and running down Charlbury to score by a neck at the post. Melvin was elated after the victory, which follows an extensive list of Te Akau apprentices to salute on raceday including Daniel Stackhouse, Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson and Troy Harris. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off my back this early in my career, it’s pretty good,” she said. “I probably rode him a bit further back than I had anticipated, but he’s the kind of horse that switches off and relaxes in behind midfield. “When he came into the home straight, he let down really nicely. “I did think it might be coming (the win), but I didn’t want to get too confident.” While Melvin didn’t initially have a career in horses in mind, she ended up working for Wingatui couple Terry and Debbie Kennedy, and a move to Matamata soon provided an opportunity to start an apprenticeship. “I said to myself when I left school that I didn’t want to pursue a career in horses, but here I am,” she said. “I’m originally from down south in Mosgiel, and I was based with Terry and Debbie Kennedy down there. “I started with Te Akau about a year ago, and Mark offered for me to stay and do my apprenticeship with him, so I haven’t looked back since.” Walker was full of praise for Melvin, while indicating a future over the fences is a possibility for her winning mount. “She’s an important part of the team, rides beautiful track work, and all the staff will be rapt for her,” he said. “She’s been getting better in every ride since starting off last month and her fitness is continuing to improve. I think she’s got a bright future. “And the horse, Devoted, he’s continuing to furnish and mature, although it has taken time, and he could develop into a really nice steeplechaser.” Devoted was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sales, out of co-breeder Mapperley Stud’s draft for $50,000. The gelding has won four races and $72,842 in stakes from 33 attempts for the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tayla Melvin pictured after riding her first winner at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Melvin guides first winner at Pukekohe Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted. The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third. With a further nine raceday rides under her belt, Melvin combined with the son of Contributer in the TAB NZ 2100, where he was rated a $16.30 chance after finishing strongly last-start for fourth under the young hoop at Rotorua. Devoted jumped fairly away from barrier seven and Melvin allowed the six-year-old to settle back at the tail of the 14-horse field, sitting three-wide in the heavy conditions. The gelding was travelling better than most turning for home, sweeping to the extreme outside and running down Charlbury to score by a neck at the post. Melvin was elated after the victory, which follows an extensive list of Te Akau apprentices to salute on raceday including Daniel Stackhouse, Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson and Troy Harris. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off my back this early in my career, it’s pretty good,” she said. “I probably rode him a bit further back than I had anticipated, but he’s the kind of horse that switches off and relaxes in behind midfield. “When he came into the home straight, he let down really nicely. “I did think it might be coming (the win), but I didn’t want to get too confident.” While Melvin didn’t initially have a career in horses in mind, she ended up working for Wingatui couple Terry and Debbie Kennedy, and a move to Matamata soon provided an opportunity to start an apprenticeship. “I said to myself when I left school that I didn’t want to pursue a career in horses, but here I am,” she said. “I’m originally from down south in Mosgiel, and I was based with Terry and Debbie Kennedy down there. “I started with Te Akau about a year ago, and Mark offered for me to stay and do my apprenticeship with him, so I haven’t looked back since.” Walker was full of praise for Melvin, while indicating a future over the fences is a possibility for her winning mount. “She’s an important part of the team, rides beautiful track work, and all the staff will be rapt for her,” he said. “She’s been getting better in every ride since starting off last month and her fitness is continuing to improve. I think she’s got a bright future. “And the horse, Devoted, he’s continuing to furnish and mature, although it has taken time, and he could develop into a really nice steeplechaser.” Devoted was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sales, out of co-breeder Mapperley Stud’s draft for $50,000. The gelding has won four races and $72,842 in stakes from 33 attempts for the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate.
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.