KEY POINTS:
Tom Hazlett has moved into a position to win the jumps jockeys' premiership - but he doesn't want to talk about it.
The Canterbury horseman wished to put the subject aside yesterday.
"I don't want to discuss the jockeys' championship," Hazlett said.
He was concerned the thought of topping the premiership might have an negative effect on his riding.
"As soon as you start talking about it, or thinking about it, it all turns to custard," he said.
Hazlett said he only had to look at the circumstances in which he gained the winning ride on Just A Swagger in Saturday's $40,000 Hawke's Bay Steeplechase at Hastings to see how easily luck can change.
Joanne Rathbone was engaged for the ride on Just A Swagger but two races earlier she broke a wrist in a fall.
Hazlett was the replacement but ironically was available for the mount only after his original ride, pre-post favourite The Jolly Dancer, was scratched the day before after suffering a tendon injury.
The win on Just A Swagger took Hazlett's tally for the season to 12, two behind Rathbone on 14. Rathbone said she would not be able to resume riding before the season ends on July 31.
Hazlett shares second place with Jonathan Riddell but he has been riding in Melbourne in recent weeks.
Hazlett said he did not want to get ahead of himself after being in a position to win the premiership previously.
"A couple of years ago I had a bit of a sniff at it. I started concentrating on it and things just went to custard."
Hazlett said he wanted to keep his mindset just as it had been of late.
"I couldn't be happier with the way things have been going. I've been very relaxed about my riding this year.
"I've just been letting things happen and it's been happening nicely for me.
"I do have a tendency on occasions to over-think, and when that happens you start over-trying, and that's when things stop happening."
Hazlett said when he was riding in Australia he won the jumps premiership in South Australia three years in a row but the New Zealand equivalent was far more prestigious.
- NZPA
