Following his successful stint in New Zealand over summer, expat Kiwi jockey Rory Hutchings is set to return to his homeland next month.
While he spent several months in New Zealand at the start of the year, this trip will be a hit-and-run mission for the Sydney-based hoop, who has answered the call of leading New Zealand stable Te Akau.
He has been booked to ride Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Group One winner Quintessa (Shamus Award) in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 6, and he is excited about her prospects in the feature.
“I am coming in for the day and I am looking forward to it,” Hutchings said.
“I am locked in for Quintessa. She is going to be a good chance in what I think will be an open race.
“She trialled well the other week and it’s always good to put the Te Akau colours on.”
Quintessa tasted victory at the same meeting two years ago when winning the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) before going on to win the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).
She continued her racing career in Australia where she won the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) and placed in the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) and Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) before returning to New Zealand this season.
Hutchings has also secured the ride on exciting three-year-old Bulgari (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) for trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley.
The son of Hello Youmzain is undefeated, having won on debut over 1100m at Te Rapa in April, and Hutchings is hoping to keep that record intact next month.
Hutchings is hoping his purple patch of form continues in New Zealand, with his summer stint netting 14 wins and more than $1.6 million in prizemoney, including four victories at Group or Listed level, with the highlight being victory aboard El Vencedor in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
“I was really happy with the way things went back home,” he said. “It was nice and refreshing and a bit of a change, I hadn’t been home properly for 10 years, and I was able to spend time with family and ride a lot of winners while I was there.”
While it will be a brief trip home, Hutchings hasn’t ruled out a longer stay if opportunities present themselves later in the season.
“At the moment, I will be purely in Australia, but I am open to opportunities if they come about,” he said.
“If the right opportunities present themselves, I am open to that idea (spending an extended period of time in New Zealand). I had such good fun while I was back there for that stint during the summer.”
