Jeff Penza is experiencing the best season of his career, as he heads to Kembla Grange for its last meeting of the term with the South Coast track’s premiership wrapped up.
But Penza is still looking to cap it with another big day, fuelled by a score of rides from Godolphin..
He enters the meeting on 130 wins, which betters his previous best of 123, and leads the state premiership with nine days to go.
“I’m in front but I still need to ride winners because Greg Ryan can have a big week, but I have a good book at Kembla,” Penza said.
“There are some nice ones there from Godolphin, Kennedy, Witches and Estafette. They have been big supporter as have number of other stables.”
Penza has become the main provincial rider for the blue army, which has helped him to 73 wins for the season and also seen him collect the Newcastle jockeys premiership.
“When you are riding for them it helps in a lot of ways because people see you winning for them and give you a chance," Penza said. "It has made a big difference in Newcastle because I have struggled to get rides up there but this season I have been able to break through.”
Penza suggested the blinkers being applied to Kennedy in the Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL Maiden Plate may prove the difference.
"I have ridden him a couple of time and he is a nice horse and the blinkers will help him focus,” Penza said. “He is very fit and has the advantage of race experience.”
While Penza is safely home in the jockeys premiership, Brock Ryan has the chance to sntach the apprentice from Rachel King if he can ride a couple of winners on the final day.
Chris Waller has broken Gwenda Markwell’s 14th season hold on the Kembla trainer’s premiership, but Markwell remains the leading local trainer at the track.