The intense competition for the Sydney apprentices premiership between rising stars Siena Grima and Braith Nock is set to continue at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Nock has occupied the top spot for most of the season, but Grima has recently gained significant ground. Her impressive treble at Royal Randwick last Saturday, with wins on Tazima, Perfect Justice, and Benevac, has put her on 33 wins, giving her a three-win lead with five meetings left.
Grima has the backing of the powerhouse Chris Waller stable, and she has four rides for the champion trainer at the midweek meeting. These include Aurora Boom ($7) in the opening event, the Racing And Sports Plate over 1100 metres.
Her other mounts for the Waller stable are Leonessa ($19) in the Robrick Lodge Plate (1100m), Snitzel Miss ($10) in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m), and Full Hao ($10) in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap (1600m).
Grima also rides the Tracey Bartley-trained Dusty Bay ($5) in the TAB Handicap (1400m). She is also aboard Ciaron Maher’s Stormland ($9.50) in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap (1100m) and the Theresa Bateup-trained Brannum ($71) in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m).
Grima is poised to become only the fourth female apprentice to win the Sydney premiership, following in the footsteps of Rachel King (2017/18), Winona Costin (2014-15), and Kathy O’Hara (2004-05).
However, Nock will be eager to reignite his title defence with six rides at Warwick Farm, all from different trainers. His strongest contenders are likely the Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior-trained Deep Pleasure ($6) in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap, and Let’s Go Again ($7.50) for the Kerry Parker stable in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap.
Nock also partners Peter Snowden’s Divine Offering ($21) in the Racing And Sports Plate, Gone To Gowings ($23) for the Clarry Conners stable in the Robrick Lodge Plate, the Joel Wilkes-trained Danish Fortune ($13) in the Agency Real Estate Handicap, and Voracious, trained by Mack Griffith, in the TAB Handicap.
Nock is aiming to join an elite group of riders who have secured multiple Sydney apprentice premierships this century.
Zac Lloyd claimed successive Sydney titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with Robbie Dolan achieving the same in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Sam Clipperton won back-to-back premierships in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and Mitch Newman claimed his second premiership in 2000-01 after winning the title in 1998-99.
Chris Waller, who has already accumulated 176 wins this season, is also on a record chase at the Warwick Farm meeting.
The Hall of Fame trainer needs another 13 winners to equal his all-time record for most Sydney wins in a season, a mark of 189 winners he set in 2017-18.
Waller is represented in five races tomorrow, including Saloon Passage, the $3 favourite in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap.
The Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap is a key race to watch, and you can find the latest Australian betting sites offering markets for it.