Racing: Keen for one more title as the end nears

Linda Wheeler's professional trainer and husband John Wheeler is her biggest critic.

Linda Wheeler has won the amateur jockey rider series four times, including a treble in 2009-11.

Third last year, she hopes to win it this year, although she is likely to miss the winter feature amateur race, the Duke of Gloucester Cup, in Hastings on June 27.

"I'll miss a couple of races because John and I will be cruising in Europe at the time," says the wife of professional trainer John Wheeler, who won the cup on Whisper To Me in September 2010 at Trentham.

However, she says she will still be in contention for the series title, something she would like to win again before finishing her amateur career.

"I might only do it for another season," says Wheeler who has had a knee reconstruction.

"I'm getting to a point where I'll hang up the boots."

Her husband (right) is her biggest critic if she rides badly but he will not be at today's Hawke's Bay meeting because he is at the Warrnambool Carnival in Victoria for the next three days.

"I can get away with a bad race in Hastings," she says with a laugh. "It doesn't happen often because if I do have a bad race he'll kick my arse."

That, Linda says, is not about winning because she can finish last and still win his plaudits for giving the horse a chance. "I may run nowhere but he'll tell me there's nothing more I could have done."

She has two daughters, Kristal Jenkins, 22, and Bridget Jenkins, 19, while John, who turns 65 on May 23, has a daughter, Kylie, 40.

The couple married after her husband died.

Kristal, and sometimes Kylie, go hunting hares with her while Bridget, a former pony rider, is not into the equine scene.

"Maybe one day she'll get back into riding," says Wheeler enjoying sipping alcohol from a hip flask during the fun times at the Taranaki Hunting Club with the hounds.

The Duke of Gloucester Cup has strong ties with the hunting clubs and is believed to be the most expensive ($55,000) racing trophy in New Zealand.

Among the oldest amateurs in the country at 47, she is in the illustrious company of Sue Thompson, of Hastings, ex-pro Danny Frye, of Amberley, and Scott MacNab, of Wanganui.