By BARRY STREET
The rapidity with which apprentice jockeys are making names for themselves these days is mind-boggling.
Michael Walker is the prime example. Then, how about Thomas Russell, who rode three winners at Otaki last Thursday, and Andrew Calder?
Paul Sellwood was an unknown less than two months ago. Who would have thought that in quitting the junior ranks of 4.5kg claimers at Ellerslie on Saturday he would also have chalked up a treble of winners on a metropolitan track?
It was a quite remarkable achievement for a greenhorn who turned 20 years of age only last week - especially one who thought he would be too heavy to ride professionally.
Sellwood is a son of Cambridge trainer Don Sellwood, who won the 1981 Auckland Cup with Drum and 1979 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie with Al Donte.
Because of his size, Paul Sellwood was denied an apprenticeship with his father until his weight stabilized after a round of amateur picnic races in Australia.
He won 11 races as an amateur - eight in Australia - and took only days to claim his first win as an apprentice, aboard Cambridge galloper Super Dupa in a maiden 1600m at Avondale on July 19.
Super Dupa, trained by Bruce Macdonald and destined for a hurdling career next year, was the first of Sellwood's three winners.
The other two were consistent Kate Lorimer and open-class stayer Hangover Harry, both of whose connections were eager for weight relief.
"If I had a stable full of triers like Kate Lorimer, I'd be happy," said Takanini trainer David Medcalfe.
"The only trouble is she is too small to carry big weights."
Hangover Harry had his trainer, Caroline Condie of Takanini, worried by his weight position after his Te Awamutu Cup win on July 8 and his subsequent Taumaruinui Cup second and defeat of All In Fun at Te Rapa on August 12.
"He tried his heart out again last week with 57.5kg in the Whakatane Cup," Condie said, "but fifth was his lot. The weight got to him."
The benefit of Sellwood's allowance was evident on Saturday when Kate Lorimer and Hangover Harry both went to the line strongly after enjoying prominent positions.
Hangover Harry's is likely to race next in the $40,000 Mitchelson Cup over 2400m at Ellerslie on October 7.
It is a race Condie has already won, with Jaypee's Special, but a non-claiming race, which means Hangover Harry's weight bugbear will rearise.
Meantime, Paul Sellwood's progress could carry on, even though he is now down to a 3kg claim.
After all, a maximum allowance was never much use to him. His size prevented him claiming below 53kg.
fuboxesBOX BOX BOX
The bravery and comradeship of jumps jockeys was never better illustrated than at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Visiting Irish jockey Finbarr Leahy and former champion New Zealand jumps rider Wayne Hillis remained in good spirits and on excellent talking terms despite a scary incident at the second last jump in the Lion Red Hurdles.
Hillis's mount, the dashing Little Bro, baulked at the hurdle and veered sharply towards the much taller outer hurdle guard.
Nessun Dorma and Leahy, seeking a third straight win, were challenging on the outer.
It was almost a miracle that both horses cleared the fence after they brushed, with Nessun Dorma coming perilously close to the guard.
Little Bro again veered out at the last jump, almost certainly costing Nessun Dorma the race.
Through on the inner stormed the Ann and Ken Browne-trained stablemates Golden Miller and Smart Hunter for first and second.
No disqualification was necessary because Nessun Dorma recovered to finish third ahead of Little Bro (fourth).
Hillis escaped a suspension because it was deemed his mount had acted totally beyond his control.
"He wasn't going to jump the hurdle," Hillis said. "If Nessun Dorma hadn't been there he would have gone through the wing."
Racing: Sellwood latest newcomer to ranks of riding young guns
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