Farr brings up century after whirlwind weekend
Emily Farr was a tired but happy rider at Woodville on Sunday after she recorded her 100th win in the saddle in New Zealand.
The 34-year-old hoop had been back in the country for just over 24 hours when hopping aboard the Lydia Pickford-trained Keepz Occurring for the NZ Farmers (3000m), and she showed no signs of jet lag when guiding her charge to a 2-3/4 length victory.
“I was super stoked,” Farr said. “It is something that I have wanted to do for a while, and to get it yesterday after being at home (Wales) with my Mum for the last couple of days was really good.”
Farr didn’t have to wait long before she was back in the winner’s circle, riding The Bambino to victory in the following race - the Foleys Transport Waipukurau (3000m).
Farr was rapt to bring up her 100-win milestone, but said it was a whirlwind weekend to try and make it to the meeting after arriving in Auckland from Europe the day before.
“I arrived in Auckland at 4:30am on Saturday morning. I came home to Matamata for an hour and then flew down to Wellington,” she said.
“I hadn’t ridden a horse for two-and-a-half weeks, so I was a bit like a sassy filly who had just had a freshen-up for 10 days.”
Farr said she enjoyed her time in Europe, where she attended a wedding and visited her mother back in the United Kingdon, and Farr said her mum was the first person on the phone to congratulate her following her success on Sunday.
“I couldn’t go all the way for a wedding in Cyprus and not go and visit Mum,” Farr said. “Even though I was only there for six days, it was good for her to know how passionate I still am about my job and New Zealand.
“She rang me up before the races and she rang me up after. She was very happy and very proud. She knew Dad would have been, so it was great.”
Reflecting on her milestone, Farr is appreciative of the support she has received throughout her career, and the relationships she has been able to build during her time in New Zealand.
“Ralph Manning always supported me when I was an apprentice, as well as Mr (Graeme) Rogerson,” she said.
“I have had a lot of success with John Wheeler and I picked up a few for Paul Nelson. To keep those kinds of connections right through my career is something that I am proud of.”
Of Farr’s 100 wins in New Zealand, she said one meeting stands out in particular, while she has taken great satisfaction in convincing owners and trainers to try their horses over fences and rewarding them with early success.
“I rode four winners in a day at Te Aroha, which is one of my biggest highlights,” she said.
“Most of my hurdle winners have been first starters. I get a lot of satisfaction out of teaching them and convincing the owners and trainers that they can be jumpers, be successful, and go on with their career.
“It (jumping) gives another string to their bow. I quite like it that it gives those horses another career.”
While Farr has had success on the flat and over fences, jumping is where her passion lies and she is looking forward to enhancing her record in that discipline in years to come.
“Mum and Dad were both amateur champion jumps jockeys in the UK, so it (jumping) is something that I have been brought up with,” she said.
“Jumps racing has always been a passion for me and I find the time and effort that is put into those horses just makes a great community.
“I just love it, it is a thrill you can’t get anywhere else.”
