Memorable victory for versatile rider

Welsh jockey Emily Farr took her career to another level at Awapuni where she successfully combined with Pump Up The Volume.

The 25-year-old produced a polished display on Saturday to claim her first black type win aboard the hardy stayer in the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup.

“It’s wonderful and I’ve had a lot of support and I feel very privileged,” Farr said.

She settled the Ralph Manning-trained Pump Up The Volume toward the back of the field before picking up ground across the top and the son of Savabeel held a sustained finish to post the seventh win of his 50 start career.

Alinko Prince acquitted himself well to finish second in his open class debut, as did Five To Midnight who rallied strongly after going to the front 600 metres from.

“He’s better coming on the outside than through the field,” said Farr, who is also an accomplished jumps jockey and won last season’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdles on Just Got Home. “He was always travelling well and I know he always finishes off in his races.”

The winner of last year’s Gr.3 Rotorua Cup, Pump Up The Volume has been in good touch this preparation with success at Awapuni in the winter and more recently he strung three placings together, including a runner-up finish in the Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old is now likely to head south to Riccarton for the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. He is currently a $12 chance for the November 12 contest.

Pump Up The Volume wasn’t the only cup hopeful in the field with Blathwayt, who is at $16 in the pre-post market, a sound enough fourth.

Guarantor’s run for seventh resulted in his price moving out to $14 while Savaria’s price blew from $18 to $31 following her below-par effort for eighth.