There was no disguising what winning Sunday’s time-honoured Duke Of Gloucester Cup (2200m) meant to amateur rider Caitlin Rennie as she crossed the line victorious aboard Joejoeccini (NZ) (Puccini).
The 21-year-old had partnered the Sam Mynott-trained galloper in a similar event at Te Aroha at the end of August when finishing into third, and chasing her first success in the saddle, her mount was well-backed closing second favourite behind Autumn Beauty.
Rennie allowed Joejoeccini to stride forward from the gate and sat outside the leader in Leprekhan early, before easing back in the one-one alongside Carignan. The pace was genuine along the back straight and there was challengers lined across the track as they turned for home, with Joejoeccini and Rennie hitting the front early.
In A Pickle and series leader Abhay Seesa looked the big danger coming through the centre and Smokin Mo was powering down the outside, but Rennie lifted her charge in the shadows of the post, pumping her fist in the air as they took the iconic event by half a length.
She was all smiles returning to the winner’s circle, having her parents and well-known racing identities Kim Clapperton and Andy Rennie on course to celebrate the result.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled, it’s super special to have Mum and Dad here today, which is probably the most important thing,” Rennie said.
“Sam (Mynott) has supported me from the minute I got there, she set this horse up for this race and it’s a massive honour to be able to pull it off for her.”
While Rennie was delighted to take the race described by visiting race caller Ric McIntosh as the ‘Melbourne Cup for Amateur Riders’, it was also a sense of redemption for the young hoop, having had a difficult ride aboard stablemate Linkin Park at the Te Aroha meeting on Friday.
“I had a bit of making up to do after Friday’s performance, so I’m glad to get this one across the line,” she said.
“It still looked pretty rough in the last 100, but we got up on the line and that’s the main thing. The horse tries so hard, it was a bit wet for him last time but he still gave it his all for third, and today he’s dug deep.”
Mynott, who prepares the five-year-old out of Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier for Rennie.
“We’ve redeemed ourselves now, I’m stoked with that,” she said. “We put a plan in motion a couple of months ago with this horse, and it’s her (Rennie) first win, so it’s awesome for the whole team.
“I said to either land in the one-one or sit outside the lead, and it’s a long straight so be patient. She’s ridden it out, it was a good finish and she’s worked hard for this, so I’m really proud of her.
“It’s pretty cool, I’ve still got a bit of the shakes, so we’ll be having a drink tonight for sure.”
While Seesa had to settle for second in the feature, he won the Waitoa Haulage Maiden (2200m) aboard Tempest Moon earlier in the card, and secured the series title with four wins from 11 rides across the season.