Former North Island trained galloper Zucchero made it two wins from just three runs from his new southern base, courtesy of a superbly judged ride by Lisa Allpress at Riccarton on the weekend.

Allpress took the rugged Pins gelding straight to the front against his rating 65 rivals and dictated the play throughout the contest to score by a comfortable one and three quarter lengths in the 1400 metre contest.

Trainer Neil Ridley was impressed by the effort of both Allpress and Zucchero who seems to have finally come of age in this campaign.

“He showed a lot of promise up north but couldn’t crack it up there,” he said.

“He seems to have thrived since he’s been with me and he’s starting to live up to that early promise.

“I think another key has been the wet tracks. When Lisa won on him earlier in the month she said he just loved it so it gave us the confidence to keep him going.

“He likes to run along a bit so she rode him perfectly on Saturday and he never really looked like being caught.”

Ridley has plans to give the gelding another run at either Oamaru or Ashburton before returning to Riccarton for the upcoming Grand National carnival in early August.

Allpress is currently in a purple patch of form as she strives to reclaim the National Jockey’s Premiership title she last won in 2012. A winning double on Saturday made it seven wins for the week and carried her 12 clear of nearest rival Matt Cameron who has held the title for the past two seasons.