By Graeme White
Apprentice jockey Rebecca Bronett Prag is making the most of every opportunity that comes her way with a winning double with her only two rides at Canberra on Friday leading into just one opportunity at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday.
Bronett Prag will ride last start winner Shalmum in the Tathra Bowlo Tathra Cup Benchmark 58 (1600m) at the final meeting of the year for the Sapphire Coast Turf Club.
In five weeks, the club will stage its biggest meeting of the year for the two-day carnival as it celebrates its 135th anniversary.
Based at Canberra with leading trainer Keith Dryden, Bronett Prag landed the TAB Federal with La Sante after earlier guiding Gatchan to victory.
She has ridden eight winners form her past 50 rides and said she was grateful for every opportunity that came her way.
“I had ridden Gatchan a few times before and it was nice to be back on her,” she said.
“La Sante is a nice old horse who has won his past two starts in Federals.
“I have learnt a lot from being based in Canberra with my boss Keith Dryden and I’m happy with how things are going.”
She may be able to continue the winning trend with Shalmum who broke through for her first win last time out at Nowra.
The mare was having her 15th starts after some consistent performances producing eight previous placings.
The wasn’t only a turnaround for Shalmum, but added to the record for trainer Natalie Jarvis since relocating from Moruya to Canberra.
The stable also won with Napoleon Solo at Moruya last week.
“It was a big move, but it has been worth it. They are such great facilities at Canberra and we are starting to get a few nice results,” Jarvis said.
The Jarvis stable have been joined at a similar time in Canberra by Luke Pepper who has had several winners since moving back from Scone.
His latest – Fifty Five Mustang – made it two straight wins at Canberra on Friday.
Pepper has Balmoral well placed to break through at the Sapphire Coast in the Tathra Beach Country Club Maiden (1200m) with top jockey Nick Heywood aboard.
Balmoral ran fourth as favourite at his first start for Pepper at Albury after previous runs at the Sunshine Coast (fourth) at Hawkesbury (second).
Heart And Spirit (second at the Sunshine Coast) has since won two of his five starts.
Meanwhile, debut winner Rocco Lini could make it two from two in the Think Pink Plumbing Class 1 (1400m).
Rocco Lini was successful at the Sapphire Coast on December and co-trainer Matt Jones feels the gelding will again be competitive.
“He is about the same as what he was before he won and hopefully that is good enough for him to get there again,” he said.
Rocco Lini, of which a part share was sold off for charity as part of the Joseph-Jones operation annually, will again be ridden by Patrick Scorse.
The jockey was able to deliver in the final stages with Two Aye at Canberra on Friday for the stable’s tenth winner from its past 50 starters.
Many of the stable’s horses will line-up at the carnival on February 1 and 2 which is traditionally one of the biggest meetings attended in country NSW.
The feature day is on the Sunday for the $80,000 Bega Cup which is a Big Dance eligibility race.
All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Sapphire Coast meeting