Grima gains ground on Nock in apprentice title race with winning treble

Siena Grima is steadily closing the gap on Braith Nock in the premiership standings, adding a compelling narrative to the closing stages of the season for Sydney's apprentice riders.

Nock, the previous year's champion junior jockey, drew first blood at Rosehill on Saturday, securing a Highway Handicap (1500m) win aboard Portofino ($7.50). Grima, however, fought back with a double for her employer, Chris Waller, guiding Tarzing ($3.60) and the $2.70 favourite Surf's Up to victory.

A few races later, she partnered with trainer Matthew Smith to claim the Schweppes Handicap (1200m) on Ready To Shine.

With just nine metropolitan race meetings left in the 2025-26 racing term, Grima has now accumulated 28 city winners, bringing her within two victories of Nock. She also benefits from the backing of Sydney's premier stable.

Darren Beadman, Waller's assistant trainer and a former champion jockey, believes the rivalry between Grima and Nock is a fantastic spectacle for the sport.

"She is making a good go of it. It's great for racing to have a bit of competition like this over the last month," Beadman said. "Braith has done a tremendous job last year, and to continue on into the next season being strong."

Beadman, who is providing mentorship to Grima, specifically lauded her performance on Surf's Up in Saturday's Find Your Eternal Warrior @ The Chase Handicap (1400m).

He had advised her to replicate her previous successful ride on Tarzing by settling just behind the leaders. However, he was pleased that she demonstrated confidence in her own judgment when the race's early dynamics shifted.

"I told her to bang her out and copy-paste last ride, just in behind the lead, but when she elected to let (jockey) Anna Roper cross her and be three pairs back on the fence, that was the winning move," Beadman stated. "She could have kept holding her spot and using gas all the way. A ride beyond her years of riding, and she was strong at the finish."

Grima has been vocal about her determination to overtake Nock and win the Sydney apprentices' premiership. If she achieves this, she will be the fourth female jockey to do so, following in the footsteps of Kathy O'Hara (2004-05), Winona Costin (2014-15), and Rachel King (2017-18).

"It's going to be really exciting. He's a great opponent," Grima remarked.

The battle for the apprentice jockey title is intensifying, making it an opportune moment to explore the available Australian betting sites for the upcoming races.