Déjà vu for Moodley at New Plymouth

[Wandering Eyes]

It was a sense of déjà vu for Triston Moodley as he took out the apprentice-only day at New Plymouth on Tuesday after riding four winners for local trainer Robbie Patterson.

The northern hoop won the contest last year when piloting five winners, and he was delighted to repeat the feat this year.

“You don’t always get days like that, and I was very happy to be able to win it again,” he said. “I love riding at Taranaki, it is a lovely course. It is a quirky course and I seem to do pretty well on it.”

The meeting, which was postponed from last Thursday as a result of track conditions, wasn’t without its struggles, with Moodley and fellow Auckland apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll having to travel to Taranaki by road after their flights had been cancelled.

“It was a bit of a hectic start to the morning with all of the flights being cancelled due to fog, so I jumped in my car with Ace and I drove down,” Moodley said. “We just missed the first race, but I am glad we made it down there and it panned out the way it did.

“I thought I had a good book of rides, but I didn’t think I would ride four (winners). I am grateful to Mr Patterson and for all of the trainers for supporting me.”

Moodley’s quartet of wins has brought his season tally to 45 victories, five more than last year. The 23-year-old has been rapt with the way the season has gone, highlighted by his first stakes win aboard the Erin Hocquard-trained Spencer in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa last October.

“My goal for the season was to do better than last season, so I have hit that goal and I am very happy with that,” he said. “Throughout the season I have been getting support from all these big trainers like Mr Marsh, Mr Patterson and Mr Sharrock. I am grateful to every single one of them.”

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