February 28, 2025 • 10 mins
The inaugural 4.5 million NZB Kiwi is on at Ellery Racecourse next Saturday.
Described as the people's horse, three year old Pivotal Ten has been selected to run in the race, almost coming from nowhere to become the surprise star of the South.
Pivotal Ten was purchased for just $15,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National weanling sale.
Three years on, she'll race for a share of $4.5 million.
Trainer and Jockey Samantha Wynn talks to Jason Pine about the event.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The inaugural four and a half million enzb Kiwi is
on at Allisy Racecourse next Saturday. Now, Pivotal ten has
been selected to run in the race, almost coming from
nowhere to become the surprise star of the South and
being described as the People's horse. Pivotal ten was purchased
for just fifteen thousand dollars at the twenty twenty two
(00:34):
New Zealand Bloodstock National Weenlings Sale three years on Shall
Race for a share of four and a half million
in the Southern Hemisphere's richest race for three year olds
and New Zealand's richest annual sporting event. She is unbeaten
in her last five starts for trainer and jockey Samantha Wynn,
who joins us. Now, sam thanks for joining us. How
(00:56):
is Pivotal ten risen to prominence and success so quickly
and so spectacularly?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
She's just stands to be deals in a professionals and
I must say she's probably trained very well. Now. Look
she she's the superstard here. She she's just got a
lovely laid black nature and really loves loves her rating.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
In terms of the way you trying her, Are there
really specifics to that anything that you do that is
unique to you or I mean, what has been the
bid rock of the success that you've found with Pivotal Team.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, Look, I don't think everything. Every China has their
own regime, you know, and what I've picked up over
the years walking from many trainers and you kind of
just put it into practice, but you kind of it's
trial and error, still loads to learn. Well, look at
just all about keeping the heart fit, happy and healthy
is the start, you know, and then the rest is
really up to their ability most of the time. Book,
(01:54):
she's very straightforward to trying, they said, the good ones
trying themselves. But look, yeah, still learning about her and
hopefully there's a bet Martic Crn, Well.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It sounds like there will be. Are the same philosophies
of training horses, you know, are they transferable across every
horse or is every horse just slightly unique?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah? Every horse has their own characteristics. You know, a
lot of them are straightforward, a lot of them can
be very hard work, and the quirky ones and armally
the ones with a lot of ability too you know,
but you treat them individually and try and get the
best out of them, because if you try and treat
them all the same, you probably wouldn't get a good result.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
One of pivotal teams most recent wins came in the
Southland Guinea's an absolute demolition job, winning by more than
eight lengths. How do you reflect on that?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Rice? Look, it was something else. So she blew me away,
to be honestly, because of her track walker at home.
She doesn't work like a champion at home, you know,
like she doesn't show you any signs of what she's
capable of. When she steps out onto the track. She's
just the switches into race mode, you know, and she
seems happy in herself and just loves her walk. But
(03:00):
she's got a lot of ability, a lot of natural ability.
So I'm just blessed to have her.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So you didn't really have You must have had an
inkling though that she was capable of something like that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Not really, to be honest, like, she's she just keeps
stepping up each time we bring her to the races.
You know, she's maturing as we go. And I wrote
her actually in the fourth twelve for another trainer and
she you know, she was only a two year old
baby then, but didn't really get much of a fail
of her and just thought she needed some mature And
she's still maturing, don't get me wrong, Like she still
(03:32):
has a bit of filling out to do, but she's
stepping up each time. And she seems happy. She loves
her food, which is the key to a lot of filies,
you know, as long as they're eating, like I tend
to try and a lot out the feed. Then is
they're not eating, you just back off them a little bit.
But yeah, they definitely have to be happy in their mind.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And you're the first female jockey confirmed for the New
Zealand Bloodstock Keywait, was this one you were targeting personally?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
No, no, not all. I actually I see Sam Spratt,
who's an amazing rider. She has a ride in the
race and deservedly so. Now look, we had no no
introg I didn't have interest in the race, but it
didn't really look too much into it because when you
have to be selected to run into it and the
South all of horses don't get a look in normally,
you know. And she's just come on the scene and
(04:20):
really put herself on the map, you know, So I
think she deserves a crack. The owner deserves a crack.
The owner's very kind to me and he's really good
to trying for so he deserves it as much as
the team at home. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
How do you balance training with rutting?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Oh It's very challenging sometimes, you know. But I've got
great team of staff at home that I know all
bases are covered well. I head away to the races,
you know, I have to look after them well because
I know that they look after with the love and
care that I do, you know, and you need that.
So just having a good balance and try not to
overdo it. It is hard sometimes because sometimes you just
want to hand the reins over and say it's up
(04:56):
to the jockey now. But I'm in the jockey, so
I just don't need to get a bit of a break.
But at the same time, I bloody love it, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Is it common same as what you do training and riding?
Is that common or not?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I don't think so, to be honest, not many. I
think there's one lady trying to up. No, she has
a human work. But I got up to about eighteen
or more there and like having a goo few royds. Look,
it's I don't even think the stewards they're a fan
of what I'm doing because it's probably spreading myselves out
with the breath of moment. I seem to be managing
okay mentally and physically. Physically, probably more is the challenging part,
(05:31):
because I've had a good few falls over the years
and my body is not on very shape anymore, so
I'll have to be mindful of that as well.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You know, But do you think that do you think
the two can be complimentary? Do you think like being
a trying to help you with riding and vioce versa?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, definitely it helps me understand what I was in
behind the scenes, and you know how much it cost
to get a horse to the races. So I'll definitely
try hard. I try to have for every traina but
definitely not more understanding of it now. But like I
was speaking to someone that trackside this morning, then you
know somewhat like, yeah, I've got I've got the nerves
of doing the job now on the court. But also
(06:10):
I know that I know we'll walk down into the race.
I think he's an advantage I know of hers inside
out you know, I think there is big advantages to that.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
You talked before about being in a couple of falls.
Of course, there was that horrendous accident at the end
of twenty twenty two. You were one of four riders
injured in a fatal rice in Ashburg and twenty six
year old cross jich rod to Megan Tyler died that day.
How do you reflect back on that time in your life,
because very.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Very hard, hard thing to go through, like for anybody,
like our family. I just I can't take out her
family out of my head. You know. A lot of
the time I know that they're lowly people. She was
just an amazing girl. She brightened up the room she
saw from the jockeys room. The girl's jockeys room can
be hard walk sometimes, but she really brought a good
(06:58):
balance to it, and she saw fen us all around us.
She's just been She was an amazing girl. And one
of the reasons why I am keeping on for hor
I'm trying to do me best for her. You know.
It's just very touch. She was so young, but look,
we all we didn't have to move on, and I
think of her all the time, you know, and a
lot of it is in honor of whore you.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Did you have any trepidation returning to riding after that?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
A little bit like originally when I found out the
outcome on the day, I said that I didn't think
I was going to ride anymore. Like I've been in
three races now where three girls have passed away. So
it's and I don't want to deal with in my family,
you know, getting that phone called. The phone call was
bad enough when when I was brought down to but
look's just them. Yeah, a fear, you fear the outcome, obviously,
(07:47):
But at the same time, if I thought like that,
I wouldn't be out there. I'm really enjoying where I
am at the moment. I didn't think I get that
confidence back. But training and riding me on horses is
just a dream like I can't describe it. I'm very lucky.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
And do you get nervous aside from the you know,
I guess the phys a cool danger that you you
put yourself in. Do you get nervous for big events?
You're nervous just you know, just before you jump?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Ah. Yeah, yeah, I'm only humans and the definitely, but look,
I kind of you have to put it aside. Once
you're on the horse, you know, I think once I
go in the gates, it's just all put to the
back of the head ring and you just have to
erase the road, you know. Always trying me best, sometimes
trying too hard, but you know it's it's a great
(08:33):
outfeeling and the nerves can't get to you sometimes. Look,
we're out there doing our best and it's a very
dangerous job. So and we always want to win. You can,
you can guarantee that, you know, but you know you
have to get some some wrong sometimes. But yeah, you
just have a little wrong from that.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
When and how did you come to New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Oh, my ex boyfriend he moved over for the rebuilding.
I got told to give up hope being a jockie
lik in Ireland, I got twenty four royds over three years.
In New Zealand in three years I got over a
thousand royds. So it's big different than the opportunity. But yeah,
my ex boyfriend he moved over ahead of me and
kind of telling me that the girls were getting a
good go here to move over and get me the
(09:14):
ultimatum to move over. I didn't really want to, but
I was doing a good job. I'm glad I did.
And he didn't even have a visa, so he had
to move back to Ireland after four weeks and me
being here and so that was a bit of a
hard time book and I was very lucky.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So so back in Ireland you were getting very limited
opportunities as a female jockey.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Oh yeah, look a ride every two or three months.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Oh wow.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, every time I got out there, I felt like
it was the fourth time, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, I guess, well it must be like I can
only guess. But the more you do it, I guess
the more you are comfortable with it. So is the
New Zealand bloodstock key, We're going to be the biggest
racey of rice.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Then totally it's me forth runner in the North Island.
It's what you always dream of as a jockey, a strapper.
Anyone that in the industry wants to take part in
such a thing, you know. So I'm delighted that we're
getting a trend.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Same. It's just been such a delight chatting to you.
We'll be looking out for you next Saturday at elles Lee.
I'll see if I can see any nerves in your
eyes on the start line. Not in my eyes that
good to be able to see you. But hey, all
the best, thanks for chatting to us and wish you
wish you every success in the n ZB KEI.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
We thank you for your time, all the best now.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
All the best to you too, Sam. That is a
Cementtha Win delightful a writer and trainer and she'll be
a board pivotal ten in the NZB key weep Alleleie
racecourse next Saturday. We'll have a lot more in terms
of preview for that on the show next weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It's for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The inaugural four and a half million enzb Kiwi is
on at Allisy Racecourse next Saturday. Now, Pivotal ten has
been selected to run in the race, almost coming from
nowhere to become the surprise star of the South and
being described as the People's horse. Pivotal ten was purchased
for just fifteen thousand dollars at the twenty twenty two
(00:34):
New Zealand Bloodstock National Weenlings Sale three years on Shall
Race for a share of four and a half million
in the Southern Hemisphere's richest race for three year olds
and New Zealand's richest annual sporting event. She is unbeaten
in her last five starts for trainer and jockey Samantha Wynn,
who joins us. Now, sam thanks for joining us. How
(00:56):
is Pivotal ten risen to prominence and success so quickly
and so spectacularly?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
She's just stands to be deals in a professionals and
I must say she's probably trained very well. Now. Look
she she's the superstard here. She she's just got a
lovely laid black nature and really loves loves her rating.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
In terms of the way you trying her, Are there
really specifics to that anything that you do that is
unique to you or I mean, what has been the
bid rock of the success that you've found with Pivotal Team.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, Look, I don't think everything. Every China has their
own regime, you know, and what I've picked up over
the years walking from many trainers and you kind of
just put it into practice, but you kind of it's
trial and error, still loads to learn. Well, look at
just all about keeping the heart fit, happy and healthy
is the start, you know, and then the rest is
really up to their ability most of the time. Book,
(01:54):
she's very straightforward to trying, they said, the good ones
trying themselves. But look, yeah, still learning about her and
hopefully there's a bet Martic Crn, Well.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It sounds like there will be. Are the same philosophies
of training horses, you know, are they transferable across every
horse or is every horse just slightly unique?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah? Every horse has their own characteristics. You know, a
lot of them are straightforward, a lot of them can
be very hard work, and the quirky ones and armally
the ones with a lot of ability too you know,
but you treat them individually and try and get the
best out of them, because if you try and treat
them all the same, you probably wouldn't get a good result.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
One of pivotal teams most recent wins came in the
Southland Guinea's an absolute demolition job, winning by more than
eight lengths. How do you reflect on that?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Rice? Look, it was something else. So she blew me away,
to be honestly, because of her track walker at home.
She doesn't work like a champion at home, you know,
like she doesn't show you any signs of what she's
capable of. When she steps out onto the track. She's
just the switches into race mode, you know, and she
seems happy in herself and just loves her walk. But
(03:00):
she's got a lot of ability, a lot of natural ability.
So I'm just blessed to have her.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So you didn't really have You must have had an
inkling though that she was capable of something like that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Not really, to be honest, like, she's she just keeps
stepping up each time we bring her to the races.
You know, she's maturing as we go. And I wrote
her actually in the fourth twelve for another trainer and
she you know, she was only a two year old
baby then, but didn't really get much of a fail
of her and just thought she needed some mature And
she's still maturing, don't get me wrong, Like she still
(03:32):
has a bit of filling out to do, but she's
stepping up each time. And she seems happy. She loves
her food, which is the key to a lot of filies,
you know, as long as they're eating, like I tend
to try and a lot out the feed. Then is
they're not eating, you just back off them a little bit.
But yeah, they definitely have to be happy in their mind.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And you're the first female jockey confirmed for the New
Zealand Bloodstock Keywait, was this one you were targeting personally?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
No, no, not all. I actually I see Sam Spratt,
who's an amazing rider. She has a ride in the
race and deservedly so. Now look, we had no no
introg I didn't have interest in the race, but it
didn't really look too much into it because when you
have to be selected to run into it and the
South all of horses don't get a look in normally,
you know. And she's just come on the scene and
(04:20):
really put herself on the map, you know, So I
think she deserves a crack. The owner deserves a crack.
The owner's very kind to me and he's really good
to trying for so he deserves it as much as
the team at home. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
How do you balance training with rutting?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Oh It's very challenging sometimes, you know. But I've got
great team of staff at home that I know all
bases are covered well. I head away to the races,
you know, I have to look after them well because
I know that they look after with the love and
care that I do, you know, and you need that.
So just having a good balance and try not to
overdo it. It is hard sometimes because sometimes you just
want to hand the reins over and say it's up
(04:56):
to the jockey now. But I'm in the jockey, so
I just don't need to get a bit of a break.
But at the same time, I bloody love it, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Is it common same as what you do training and riding?
Is that common or not?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I don't think so, to be honest, not many. I
think there's one lady trying to up. No, she has
a human work. But I got up to about eighteen
or more there and like having a goo few royds. Look,
it's I don't even think the stewards they're a fan
of what I'm doing because it's probably spreading myselves out
with the breath of moment. I seem to be managing
okay mentally and physically. Physically, probably more is the challenging part,
(05:31):
because I've had a good few falls over the years
and my body is not on very shape anymore, so
I'll have to be mindful of that as well.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You know, But do you think that do you think
the two can be complimentary? Do you think like being
a trying to help you with riding and vioce versa?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, definitely it helps me understand what I was in
behind the scenes, and you know how much it cost
to get a horse to the races. So I'll definitely
try hard. I try to have for every traina but
definitely not more understanding of it now. But like I
was speaking to someone that trackside this morning, then you
know somewhat like, yeah, I've got I've got the nerves
of doing the job now on the court. But also
(06:10):
I know that I know we'll walk down into the race.
I think he's an advantage I know of hers inside
out you know, I think there is big advantages to that.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
You talked before about being in a couple of falls.
Of course, there was that horrendous accident at the end
of twenty twenty two. You were one of four riders
injured in a fatal rice in Ashburg and twenty six
year old cross jich rod to Megan Tyler died that day.
How do you reflect back on that time in your life,
because very.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Very hard, hard thing to go through, like for anybody,
like our family. I just I can't take out her
family out of my head. You know. A lot of
the time I know that they're lowly people. She was
just an amazing girl. She brightened up the room she
saw from the jockeys room. The girl's jockeys room can
be hard walk sometimes, but she really brought a good
(06:58):
balance to it, and she saw fen us all around us.
She's just been She was an amazing girl. And one
of the reasons why I am keeping on for hor
I'm trying to do me best for her. You know.
It's just very touch. She was so young, but look,
we all we didn't have to move on, and I
think of her all the time, you know, and a
lot of it is in honor of whore you.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Did you have any trepidation returning to riding after that?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
A little bit like originally when I found out the
outcome on the day, I said that I didn't think
I was going to ride anymore. Like I've been in
three races now where three girls have passed away. So
it's and I don't want to deal with in my family,
you know, getting that phone called. The phone call was
bad enough when when I was brought down to but
look's just them. Yeah, a fear, you fear the outcome, obviously,
(07:47):
But at the same time, if I thought like that,
I wouldn't be out there. I'm really enjoying where I
am at the moment. I didn't think I get that
confidence back. But training and riding me on horses is
just a dream like I can't describe it. I'm very lucky.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
And do you get nervous aside from the you know,
I guess the phys a cool danger that you you
put yourself in. Do you get nervous for big events?
You're nervous just you know, just before you jump?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Ah. Yeah, yeah, I'm only humans and the definitely, but look,
I kind of you have to put it aside. Once
you're on the horse, you know, I think once I
go in the gates, it's just all put to the
back of the head ring and you just have to
erase the road, you know. Always trying me best, sometimes
trying too hard, but you know it's it's a great
(08:33):
outfeeling and the nerves can't get to you sometimes. Look,
we're out there doing our best and it's a very
dangerous job. So and we always want to win. You can,
you can guarantee that, you know, but you know you
have to get some some wrong sometimes. But yeah, you
just have a little wrong from that.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
When and how did you come to New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Oh, my ex boyfriend he moved over for the rebuilding.
I got told to give up hope being a jockie
lik in Ireland, I got twenty four royds over three years.
In New Zealand in three years I got over a
thousand royds. So it's big different than the opportunity. But yeah,
my ex boyfriend he moved over ahead of me and
kind of telling me that the girls were getting a
good go here to move over and get me the
(09:14):
ultimatum to move over. I didn't really want to, but
I was doing a good job. I'm glad I did.
And he didn't even have a visa, so he had
to move back to Ireland after four weeks and me
being here and so that was a bit of a
hard time book and I was very lucky.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So so back in Ireland you were getting very limited
opportunities as a female jockey.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Oh yeah, look a ride every two or three months.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Oh wow.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, every time I got out there, I felt like
it was the fourth time, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, I guess, well it must be like I can
only guess. But the more you do it, I guess
the more you are comfortable with it. So is the
New Zealand bloodstock key, We're going to be the biggest
racey of rice.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Then totally it's me forth runner in the North Island.
It's what you always dream of as a jockey, a strapper.
Anyone that in the industry wants to take part in
such a thing, you know. So I'm delighted that we're
getting a trend.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Same. It's just been such a delight chatting to you.
We'll be looking out for you next Saturday at elles Lee.
I'll see if I can see any nerves in your
eyes on the start line. Not in my eyes that
good to be able to see you. But hey, all
the best, thanks for chatting to us and wish you
wish you every success in the n ZB KEI.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
We thank you for your time, all the best now.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
All the best to you too, Sam. That is a
Cementtha Win delightful a writer and trainer and she'll be
a board pivotal ten in the NZB key weep Alleleie
racecourse next Saturday. We'll have a lot more in terms
of preview for that on the show next weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
It's for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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