Dual Group 1-winning New Zealand jockey Racha Cuneen wins on Gold Coast

DUAL Group 1-winning New Zealand jockey Racha Cuneen feels everything is starting to fall into place following what he says could be career defining wins over the weekend.

Racha Cuneen returns to scale after winning the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in Wellington on January 21, 2017. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

DUAL Group 1-winning New Zealand jockey Racha Cuneen feels everything is starting to fall into place following what he says could be career defining wins over the weekend.

Cuneen won on the John Zielke-trained Future Event at Ipswich on Friday before finding more success with John Morrisey’s Navy Gal in the Fillies and Mares Class 3 Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Video courtesy of Racing Queensland

They were Cuneen’s first victories since he arrived on the Gold Coast from across the Tasman four weeks ago in a bid to elevate his career to new heights.

His first win came at his seventh ride in Australia.

Cuneen said it could be a defining weekend of a three-month trial on the Gold Coast.

“It’s a massive help getting those wins and a bit of a kickstart,” Cuneen said.

“No one wants to know you unless you are riding winners – that is just the way the game is so hopefully I can keep it going.”

Cuneen knew he was essentially starting over in his career despite recording two Group 1 wins as an apprentice in the past eight months.

He won on La Diosa – who races as La Bella Diosa when in Australia – in the 1000m Guineas at Riccarton last November and Signify in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in New Zealand.

The 25-year-old conceded it had been frustrating trying to get rides but said things were starting to pick up.

“It was really hard when I got over here,” Cuneen said.

“I had to start from scratch really. I went to the track and spoke to a few trainers.

“I’m trying to meet and greet other trainers to show them who I am.

“Things are just starting to pick up.

“It was good to get a couple of wins under my belt.”

Cuneen said he made the decision to move to the Gold Coast in a bid to find a new challenge and escape the cold weather of New Zealand.

“Winter was coming back home – it’s minus four degrees in the morning,” Cuneen said.

“It’s a new experience and a new challenge.

“I want to be the best I can be so I thought the Gold Coast was a nice place to start off and see how it goes.

“I gave myself a three- month time frame to see if things will work out.

“If it doesn’t I’ll probably go back home but things are rolling now so I may stay for the summer.”