Sarah's talent puts her first

Tauranga apprentice jockey Sarah Voigt may be a lightweight in the saddle but has proved she has clout on the racetrack - winning two races in her very first outing.
The 19-year-old South African-born jockey celebrated her first day of race riding with two wins from three rides at Te Aroha on Wednesday.
"It was better than I ever imagined," Miss Voigt said yesterday recalling the wins.
"It was amazing and felt really good."
Miss Voigt, weighing in at 46kg, streaked past the winning line on 4-year-old Jimmy Jump to win the $5000 maiden race.
Two races later she was aboard maiden 2-year-old Kukri Lane. Up against seasoned jockeys such as Andrew Calder and Noel Harris, the Tauranga teenager guided the outsider to a win.
"I was pretty buzzed out to get the first win but really wasn't expecting the second one," she said.
Kukri Lane's win returned a dividend of $39.25.
The former Te Puke High School student admitted she was nervous before the first race but stuck to the race plan handed out by Tauranga trainer Jim Pender.
"Jim told me to keep him back and then just on the final corner let him go."
Following the instructions to a t, she steamed home to lead the field across the finishing line.
"It was after the race I got nervous. I didn't know where to go or what to do and it was really emotional when everyone started clapping."
Miss Voigt moved to New Zealand with her family from South Africa about eight years ago. She quickly changed her interests from ballet and violin to soccer and horses.
"I only got my own pony when we moved to New Zealand."
Her attraction to racing was simple.
"I just always loved the look of it and loved the thought of going fast and being a champion one day," she said.
"I would like to ride out my (apprentice) claim and hopefully get a ride in a big race, something important."
Voigt's two winners were both for Mr Pender to whom she is on loan from Waikato trainer Alan Jones, who is spending the winter in Queensland.
Mr Pender said the loan period only began on June 1 but he had been impressed with Voigt when she rode trackwork for him about six weeks ago.
"I was very impressed with what I saw, the way she rode and the way the horses reacted with her," Pender said.
He was also impressed with her winning rides.
"She's a very relaxed rider, she rides with a long rein and horses just settle so nicely for her.
"Even though she's just starting off, she's not a young apprentice."
Mr Pender said Voigt was a natural lightweight and had the ability to handle some of his stronger horses.
"She rode some horses for me in trackwork that were quite strong individuals but they settled and went quite nicely for her."
Mr Pender is expecting Voigt to be in big demand.
At Te Rapa today Miss Voigt will saddle up Fire Storm in the open and a second mount Kissy Mullins later on in the day.