Veteran galloper No Loitering has helped so many young apprentice jockeys, he should come with learner’s plates.
The 11-year-old is one of the oldest flat gallopers in the country and definitely the oldest still regularly competitive in open handicaps, as he showed winning at Pukekohe on Saturday.
No Loitering recorded his 11th win in a 95-start career for trainer Iain Marks, and while he is nearing $300,000 in stakes, he will be remembered for more than money by a series of young jockeys.
No Loitering, who finished last in his first race and took 15 months to leave maidens, has only ever won when ridden by an apprentice, with eight young riders tasting success aboard him.
On Saturday, it was the turn of 20-year-old Joe Nishizuka, who recorded his first career victory on a horse who started racing when Nishizuka was 13 years old.