Racing: Cropp's mission accomplished

Cambridge jockey Lisa Cropp has described her achievement of breaking the New Zealand record for winners in a season as "mission accomplished".

The 34-year-old mother-of-one has long been considered New Zealand's finest female jockey but the one gap in her remarkable international career was a domestic jockeys' premiership.

The former champion apprentice had ridden with success in Sydney, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Macau, and had always yearned to return home to win the jockeys' premiership.

A broken neck seemed sure to wreck that dream but against medical opinion and advice Cropp made a return to riding last season. And when Leith Innes opted to take up a contract to ride in Hong Kong her dream was destined to be fulfilled.

Never content to rest on her laurels, Cropp pushed on. First she broke Catherine Treymane's New Zealand record for a female rider of 109 wins in a season, then she set her sights on Lance O'Sullivan's overall record of 193 wins.

On Saturday at Te Rapa she rode three winners to take her tally to 194, breaking the record on the Mark Todd-trained Good Reason.

Cropp began a five-day suspension stemming from racing at Paeroa last Wednesday after Sunday's racing.

She also faces charges at Ellerslie tomorrow relating to a positive drugs test at Te Rapa in May.

She said she had tried to focus on her riding while in pursuit of the record instead of the drugs hearing.

"I put it to the back of my mind and just carried on," she said.

It seemed a fitting result that one of New Zealand's finest equestrian riders should provide one of New Zealand's finest jockeys with the win which saw her break new ground in the annals of racing.

Todd, whose owners in Good Reason include broadcaster Paul Holmes and Telecom boss Theresa Gattung, was delighted to be part of the record.

"It's very satisfying," the dual gold medallist Olympian said.

"I've known Lisa and her family since she was a little girl at pony club.

"I'm full of admiration for what she has done.

"To come back after a break of four years to ride more winners than anyone else has ever done, it's incredible," said Todd.

Cropp said getting the record with a day of the season to spare - she went on to ride three further winners at Oamaru on Sunday to take her final season tally to 197 - had taken the pressure off.

"This is just awesome.

"This is my dream," she said.

"I'd always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to come back and win the premiership.

"The record was never part of the plan but it's sure nice to get it.

"It's been a wonderful year.

"I've travelled the length of the country and ridden a lot of racehorses for a lot of different trainers but not for a moment have I taken my job for granted and I've really appreciated that support."

- NZPA