Tiffani Brooker rewarded for hard work

Claiming apprentice Tiffani Brooker’s hard work has given her another chance to add to her stakes-winning tally at Ipswich.

Brooker will reunite with classy mare Banda Spice for her master Stuart Kendrick in Saturday’s Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).

She has ridden 60 winners this season of which 44 have been in the metropolitan area meaning she will easily win the junior riders’ title.

Brooker rode her first stakes winner when she scored on Dreams Aplenty in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic in April.

As is the case with all apprentices over the winter carnival her metropolitan chances have been limited with the influx of visiting senior riders.

But Kendrick believes Brooker and Banda Spice will not be out of place on Saturday,

Banda Spice showed she would be a real chance in the Waterhouse with her fast-finishing fourth to Bonny O’Reilly in the Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben.

Kendrick said Banda Spice had finished either with or in front of several of her main rivals in Saturday’s Classic.

“She is still down in the weights which is a bonus. Tiffani rode her at her previous start and did a good job,” Kendrick said.

“When Banda Spice didn’t get a weight to suit Damian Browne I suggested to owner Ross Cutts we give Tiffani a go. She works hard and has a good record at Ipswich.”

Cutts, who has bred and owned dozens of thoroughbreds including Group One winners Show A Heart and Woorim, was also quick to get Brooker for his other runner Raja Ampat in the Three-Year-Old Hahdncap.

Raja Ampat is a half-brother to Banda Spice and has won his past two starts.

“His win at Eagle Farm before a spell was outstanding and he has come back well winning first-up at the Sunshine Coast,” Kendrick said.