Jockey James Winks in hit-and-run Sydney for Team Hawkes

Four-time Group 1-winning jockey James Winks will head to Sydney to help stock the light-on riding stocks in the Hawkes stable.

Victorian jockey James Winks has answered a call from John Hawkes to bulk up the riding ranks for Saturday’s Civic Stakes meeting at Rosehill, where he has taken three mounts for the stable.

A four-time Group 1-winning jockey, Winks has a close association with the Hawkes stable in Melbourne.

“I obviously ride a lot for them in Melbourne. I’m sort of second behind Dwayne Dunn for them here, and they asked if I’d go up (to Sydney) for the day,” Winks said.

“I’m looking forward to getting up there Saturday. It’s different scenery, a different track, a couple of different horses and I’ve got nice rides, which makes it worthwhile.”

Winks’s mounts are headed by Firsthand, the $6 second elect for the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m).

The six-year-old has done his recent racing in Melbourne, finishing a first-up third behind smart sprinters Order Of Command and Jungle Edge at Caulfield before a mid-field effort at Flemington.

Winks expects the gelding to appreciate a return to Sydney, where he has four wins.

“He’s back to Sydney where he’s probably performed best and he’s in a race where, if you take out the top weight ­(Deploy), it’s a very winnable race,” Winks said.

“Maybe the change of ­scenery back up to Sydney might spark him up a bit, too.”

Winks will also ride Freehearted in the 1200m TAB ­Rewards Handicap and Heart Conquered in the 1100m ­Everest Carnival Hospitality Handicap.

Heart Conquered is dropping in grade after a last-start fifth to the in-form Deprive in the Listed June Stakes at Randwick, but has drawn an awkward barrier.

“It’s a bit tricky from the draw, but he’ll roll forward and he handles the wet, so we’ll just hold on to him as long as we can and hopefully he can give a good kick late,” Winks said.

He has also picked up the ride on Pumpkin Pie for co-trainers Richard and Michael Freedman in the last race.

James Winks will come to the aid of the Hawkes training operation in Sydney.

HEFEL IN LATE ARRIVAL

Carleen Hefel’s first day at the races as a jockey proved one she’ll never forget when the late bloomer scored on Influential Girl at Moe on Thursday.

The 29-year-old began her riding apprenticeship this year with Cranbourne trainer ­Julien Welsh after years of riding trackwork and jumpouts.

A fourth-placed finish in race seven aboard Quenton for Welsh in her first race ride was the prelude to her breakthrough victory in race 10 on four-year-old mare Influential Girl.

Hepel came from last on the turn in the 1117m race and ­conceded she thought she had little chance of winning.

But she scooted along the outside rail to score by 1¾ lengths for trainer Robbie Griffiths and was smiling from ear to ear after the race.

“It’s a really good feeling, actually,” Hefel said.

“In the run I thought I was too far back … but she kept going to the line so well for me. I thought, ‘I’ve got this’.

“I wasn’t expecting a win. They were good chances, but I wasn’t holding my breath. To do it is amazing.”

With Russell Gould