After her prays were answered in an “extremely fitting” debut group 1 win on God’s Window, champion apprentice Siena Grima hopes to make the most of another opportunity in a $1.5 million race on Saturday at Rosehill.
asserted
Grima → answer → Rosehill
Grima will ride Althoff for boss Chris Waller in the group 3 Alan Brown Stakes (1500m), which carries the same prizemoney as the time-honoured group 1 Epsom Handicap won in stunning style by stablemate God’s Window last Saturday at Randwick.
asserted
which → ride → Randwick
It was a fairytale win for Grima, who had not yet tasted success at stakes level and was having a first ride in a group 1.
asserted
who → taste → group
The 24-year-old, riding at 50 kilograms, guided the $26 chance down the outside from last on the turn to score a one and three quarter-length victory on the soft track.
asserted
old → rid → track
The horse’s name made the win even more special for Grima and mentor Darren Beadman, who famously quit his career as a leading jockey in 1997 to become a Christian minister before returning in 2000 and winning another five Sydney premierships.
asserted
who → make → premierships
“I found it really fitting,” Grima said of her group 1 winner’s name.
asserted
Grima → find → name
“Obviously Darren’s been open about his faith, and I’m really into my faith as well, so I thought it was extremely fitting that that horse brought us together and it won an Epsom.
asserted
it → ’m → Epsom
“My whole family, especially my dad’s side, the Maltese side, they’re very into their Christianity.
asserted
they → ’re → Christianity
I went through Catholic primary school, high school, and it was just something that really resonated with me, so I thought to get on a horse like him, it was a perfect ending.”
asserted
it → go → him
When asked about the name, Beadman said: “A wise man said it was God’s way of opening a window for her.”
asserted
it → ask → her
Grima also pointed and looked to the heavens after crossing the finishing line.
asserted
Grima → point → line
“All my grandparents have passed away, so that was for them,” she said.
asserted
she → pass → them
“And I was like please rain, rain, rain, and I got my rain.”
asserted
I → get → rain
Grima has another chance in a rich race on Saturday with a Waller runner which bypassed the Epsom.
asserted
which → have → Epsom
Althoff, a $19 TAB chance, will carry 53 kilograms in the 1400m Alan Brown, where the five-year-old has gate seven.
asserted
old → carry → gate
Grima, who won on the Yulong-owned gelding in January and took him to second first-up this preparation, is back aboard.
asserted
who → win → up
“She knows the horse well, that’s why she’s riding her, and the light weight of course,” Waller said.
asserted
Waller → know → course
“The race the other day, they just went too slow.
asserted
they → go → ?
He loves 1400m, he loves Rosehill.
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he → love → Rosehill
He’ll run a good race.
asserted
He → run → race
He was one of the favourites for the Epsom, if he ran.”
asserted
he → run → Epsom
Grima said the signs have been positive for Althoff since the Bill Ritchie.
asserted
signs → say → Ritchie
“He’s up against some nice horses, but the lightweight and the 1400, I think he’s really going to enjoy,” she said.
asserted
she → ’ → horses
“I think he’s come on from that run.
asserted
he → think → run
I ride him nearly every day and he’s kicking up and playing on the way home, so I think he’s feeling well.
asserted
he → ride → way
“He likes to sit sort of midfield.
asserted
He → like → ?
When I won on him, I was a lot closer, but I drew well and just landed there, so if they want to tick along and I can sit in midfield, get a cart in, he should be finishing off.
asserted
he → win → cart
Grima is also down to ride Elliptical ($19) for Waller in the third on Saturday, although the Hermitage-owned stayer could instead run on Friday in the Port Macquarie Cup.
uncertain
stayer → ride → Cup
She chases wins with Richard and Will Freedman-trained Miss Spacegirl ($5) in the Midway Handicap to open the card and Jason Coyle’s Lulumon ($19) in the last after finishing second on both last time out.
asserted
She → chase → time
Miss Spacegirl lost to Call Me Sassy in a photo-finish first-up in the same grade, but has a tricky draw in 10.
asserted
Spacegirl → lose → 10
Lulumon came down the outside to finish three-quarters of a length behind rails runner Annie’s Rose first up but has the outside gate to contend with on Saturday.
asserted
Lulumon → come → Saturday
“They were both first up and they both run really nice races,” Grima said.
“Unfortunately, Lulumon’s got a terrible draw, and so does Miss Spacegirl.
“
asserted
Spacegirl → run → draw
Miss Spacegirl carries a bit of weight, but she’s a really tough filly.
asserted
she → carry → weight
She’ll give you everything, and she gave me a beautiful feel when I helped her just build up through her gears, and I think maybe that fitness was just what got her there, and there was a little late gap that I had to come through, but
asserted
I → give → that
she really shot through it.
asserted
she → shoot → it
But I think she should just improve off that.
asserted
she → think → that
“Lulumon, she’ll probably have to go back, but anything can happen.
asserted
anything → have → ?
Jason’s got her going really well and hopefully she just continues off that.”
asserted
she → get → that
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