Olzard is pumped up to reach a ton of race wins.

Springboarding off a feature race double in the Gladstone Newmarket and Gladstone Cup, apprentice jockey Nikki Olzard will ride to reach a century of race wins at Callaghan Park’s eight race program on Thursday.

Olzard who has been riding for close to two and a half years, commencing her career in Gladstone on 27 May 2023, is fast approaching the career milestone, and she is quietly confident that she can tick the box at the Rockhampton TAB race meeting.

“I think I can, it would be nice to do it, I’m on 98 so reaching 100 wins will be a bit special,” she said.

Her rides for her boss, Rockhampton trainer, Sileas Green include the Gladstone Newmarket winner Dragon’s Snip who is on a quick back up after returning to form on Saturday, the promising three-year-old Our Eagle Rock, and the up and comer, maiden, Sheeza Fling. She has also been booked for a fourth ride on the Tim Cook trained last start winner Fine and Rare.

Dragon’s Snip has drawn gate five in the seven horse Office National Express Open Handicap field (1300m).

Green’s 2024 Rockhampton Horse of the Year had been out of sorts before finding his best stride on the Ferguson Park sand.

“I actually thought he was going okay leading up to the win, with good runs in good company, but he just needed to learn how to win again, so I’m glad he did,” said Green who has five runners on Thursday at Callaghan Park.

Last Saturday’s success was Dragon’s Snip’s first in 12 months. This time last year the Hidden Dragon gelding was flying, stringing together five consecutive wins in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Dingo and Springsure.

But in September 2024 he had a fall at Thangool and seemed to lose his confidence after that.

Apprentice jockey Olzard believes the 5YO is building back his confidence every day.

“His last few runs have shown me that and before Gladstone his run at Callaghan Park was really good,” she said.  He is really building that confidence again now.”

Dragon’s Snip is a good “back up horse” who handles week-to-week racing really well, according to the trainer.

“Two starts in five days won’t bother him at all, “she said.

“I really want to know that he can get out to 1300m and this looks an ideal race to test him, it’s a winnable race for him, that’s for sure.”

Green’s five runners at Callaghan Park on Thursday are Dragon’s Snip and Moenave in the same race (Open Handicap), Our Eagle Rock and Hi Frank (Great Northern QTIS 3YO Handicap -1050m), Zhuang Shi (Get Your Caulfield Cup Tickets BM65 – 1600m) and Sheeza Fling in the Melbourne Cup Races at Callaghan Park Maiden Plate -1100m).

Olzard’s first ride for the day is on her personal favourite, Our Eagle Rock. “I would love him to be my second one and be going for my 100^th win on him, he is my superstar, my little mate,” Olzard said. “He will be really hard to beat, he is improving with everyone, and he could be the type of horse to just go through the grades from here on.”

Like Dragon’s Snip, Our Eagle Rock is raced by the Sturgiss family, and Olzard reckons he could be another horse of the year in the making. “He is so strong and versatile, I just love him,” she said.

The Your Song gelding has won two races in its career so far. Last month at Callaghan Park, Our Eagle Rock was ridden by Olzard and scored its most significant win to date, getting the money in the $21000 Restricted 55 Handicap, defeating the talented Flying Animo.

The apprentice jockey’s third opportunity to get her ton is Sheeza Fling. “She has a sticky draw, but she is the type of galloper that I can put anywhere in a race, so if the speeds on I can go back or otherwise go forward,” Olzard said.

Sheeza Fling has drawn gate 10. The Brabinger 4YO mare is having just her sixth start.

So far, she has been placed once. “All of her runs have been good, I’ve been on her every start, and she would have taken a lot of benefit from her last run here when she was first up, without a trial,” Olzard said. “She will be fitter and right in this race.”

The Cook-trained Fine And Rare (Parkhurst Quality Meats 0-55 Handicap -1400m) has drawn an outside gate as well and Olzard is hopeful that the trainer will run him despite the barrier. “I won on him here a couple of weeks ago and although this race is 100m shorter, it doesn’t look any harder,” she said.

The Rockhampton Jockey Club’s eight race program starts at 12.30pm.

• David Aldred (CEO)