Kiwi jockey Wiremu Pinn ready for fresh Sydney start after injury woes

“It’s been a shame. I would have ridden a lot more winners this season, the way I was riding. I’ve just had so many injuries and I’ve had a lot of time off.”

His focus was now building connections and momentum in Sydney.

“I’m fit, healthy and ready to go,” he said. “I want to make a good impression and if I do get the support, hopefully I’ll stay for longer. I believe 90 per cent of being a good jockey is riding good horses. It doesn’t matter if you’re James McDonald or an apprentice who hasn’t had a ride before, if you are on a good horse, you are more of a chance to win.

“It’s just about getting support, and I’ll spread my wings and work hard, and see who wants to give me rides.”

Pinn starts his push with Lenape Vibe ($41) in the sixth and Speycaster ($61) in the feature Lord Mayors Cup, both for Waller. He also picked up the ride on Matt Dale-trained Acappella Sun ($19) in the last.

“On these wet tracks, anything can happen,” he said of Speycaster, one of three Waller runners in the listed race. “I’ve very competitive and I’ll be trying, don’t worry about that. Lenape Vibe, it will probably need the run, but the one in the last is probably my best chance.

“I’m looking for a manager, so it’s been a bit of a slow start, but I’m sure it will only take that one winner for trainers to see how I ride and hopefully I’ll get a few more. Especially with these better riders heading to Queensland for the carnival, there are more opportunities for us young fellas.”

Trainer Tom Charlton hopes Derby contender can prove him wrong

Randwick trainer Tom Charlton didn’t imagine Maison Louis joining main stable hope King Of Thunder as a chance in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

That was before the pair hit the line strongly together in third and fourth last start in the group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m). Now Charlton believes Maison Louis could prove him wrong.

Charlton, a co-trainer with John O’Shea, will chase his third group 1 win when King Of Thunder ($9.50 Sportsbet) and Maison Louis ($19) tackle the staying test on Saturday at Eagle Farm.

King Of Thunder has long been on a path to the race for three-year-olds after finishing a close third in the group 2 Tulloch Stakes and fifth in the group 1 ATC Derby over the Sydney autumn.

Maison Louis, though, jumped into consideration off a 1900m benchmark handicap win at Canterbury on April 21, which followed maiden and class 1 wins at Goulburn over 1500m and 1600m. He should hold a forward position under Ben Melham with a draw in gate four.

“King Of Thunder obviously has had a lot more racing experience at this level,” Charlton said. “He probably seems like the more natural stayer out of the two and Maison Louis, it’s all sort of happened in his first campaign. He’s taking his racing very well, but we’re yet to try him at this trip.

“Off his last run, you’d be very confident that he would handle the distance. I personally thought he was never going to be a strong stayer, so let’s hope he can prove me wrong. I thought he was more a 2000m horse, but I guess three-year-olds at this grade, they can probably get a bit more forgiveness at that trip.

“He’s just progressed more and more with each race. We gave him a little break after he went to Canterbury, and he’s answered all the questions he’s been asked.”

King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra), third in the Rough Habit, has barrier 14. Charlton and O’Shea also have Candlewick in the group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m).

“She probably showed a bit of inexperience in the Hawkesbury Guineas [when sixth],” he said. “Just probably took the wrong option of going inside the eventual winner, and she ended up rolling down off the fence to the inferior ground.”