Warwick Farm sees Grima and Nock in tight premiership race

The compelling chase for the Sydney apprentices premiership between rising stars Siena Grima and Braith Nock continues at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

While Nock has been the leader for much of the season, Grima has recently gained significant momentum. Her treble at Royal Randwick last Saturday, with victories aboard Tazima, Perfect Justice, and Benevac, has propelled her to 33 wins, giving her a three-win advantage as only five meetings remain.

Grima has the strong backing of the formidable Chris Waller stable, fielding four rides for the champion trainer at the midweek gathering. Among these is Aurora Boom ($7) in the day's first race, the Racing And Sports Plate (1100m).

Her other mounts for the Waller team include Leonessa ($19) in the Robrick Lodge Plate (1100m), Snitzel Miss ($10) in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m), and Full Hao ($10) in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap (1600m).

Grima is also set to ride Dusty Bay ($5) for trainer Tracey Bartley in the TAB Handicap (1400m). Additionally, she partners Stormland ($9.50) from Ciaron Maher's yard in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap (1100m) and Brannum ($71), trained by Theresa Bateup, in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m).

Should she succeed, Grima would join an elite group of female apprentices to have won the Sydney premiership, following in the wake of Rachel King (2017/18), Winona Costin (2014-15), and Kathy O'Hara (2004-05).

Nock, however, is determined to reclaim the lead and has secured six rides at Warwick Farm, each from a different trainer. His most promising chances appear to be Deep Pleasure ($6), trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, in the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap, and Let's Go Again ($7.50) for the Kerry Parker stable in the Irresistible Pools and Spas Handicap.

Nock's other rides include Divine Offering ($21) for Peter Snowden in the Racing And Sports Plate, Gone To Gowings ($23) from the Clarry Conners stable in the Robrick Lodge Plate, the Joel Wilkes-trained Danish Fortune ($13) in the Agency Real Estate Handicap, and Voracious, under the care of Mack Griffith, in the TAB Handicap.

Nock is aiming to etch his name into the history books by becoming one of the few to win multiple Sydney apprentice premierships this century.

The record books show Zac Lloyd claimed successive Sydney titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with Robbie Dolan achieving the same in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Sam Clipperton also won back-to-back premierships in 2012-13 and 2013-14, while Mitch Newman claimed his second title in 2000-01 after an earlier win in 1998-99.

Meanwhile, premier trainer Chris Waller, with an impressive 176 wins already this season, is also on a record-breaking trajectory at the Warwick Farm meeting.

The Hall of Fame trainer is just 13 wins shy of equalling his personal best for the most Sydney victories in a season, a mark of 189 wins he set during the 2017-18 season.

Waller is set to saddle up runners in five races on Wednesday, including Saloon Passage, who is the $3 favourite in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap.

With the Ole Kirk At Vinery Stud Handicap looking like a strong betting proposition, punters are checking out the top betting sites for the best odds.