Photo: Race Images South
Four-time New Zealand champion jockey Lisa Allpress will reunite with Aimee's Jewel in Melbourne on May 1.
Allpress was the Proisir four-year-old mare's regular rider in New Zealand, guiding her to three wins from her seven starts under the care of Stratford trainer Trudy Keegan.
The highlight was her win in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton last November.
Now with Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar, Aimee's Jewel has won two jumpouts in preparation for her Australian debut over 1300m at Sandown, her most recent at Kyneton on Monday.
"I'm really excited to go over and ride her," Allpress said.
"She's a mare that has shown plenty of promise and she was able to pick up that Group Three race at Riccarton. It will be great to carry on my association with her in Australia and I'm looking forward to the change in scenery."
The last time Allpress rode in Australia, she finished seventh on Mirkola Lass in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm in 2009 but she has had much international success since, winning races in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia and last year becoming the first woman to ride a winner in Saudi Arabia.
"I've kept in touch with Aimee's Jewel's owner Troy Pannell all the way through and he was always keen to keep up my association with her," Allpress said.
"I'd told him I was keen to come over and ride her but not unless there was a bubble open and I didn't have to quarantine on the way home.
"When the trans-Tasman bubble opened up and her race was going to fit in, he was straight on the phone to offer me the ride. I'm really looking forward to getting over there and riding her again."
Bred by Suncroft Bloodstock, Aimee's Jewel was purchased for $10,000 as a yearling by Victorian Troy Pannell from the draft of Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore at the 2018 Karaka May Sale.-NZ Racing Desk
