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Full Noise by SN
Cooper brings up century of wins
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • May 12th, 2026 2:29 pm
Donovan Cooper returns after posting his 100th win aboard Ferdie's Secret at Ascot Park on Sunday. Photo: Monica Toretto
It may have taken him longer than he would have liked, but apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper was rapt to record his 100th win in the saddle at Ascot Park on Sunday.
The expat South African brought up the milestone in the opening race of the card aboard the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Ferdie's Secret, and he was relieved to get the win after believing he was a certainty on Express Coup at Riverton two days prior but was denied by a short head by Sir Sterling.
“It was a tough one to get to, I was a bit stagnant on 99, I have had a lot of placings lately,” Cooper said. “I thought I would already have it on the Friday on Express Coup, but it just didn’t work out that way.”
It was the second consecutive win for Ferdie’s Secret, who broke through for his maiden win at Riverton last Friday with fellow apprentice Ohara Najib in the saddle, while Cooper didn’t have to wait long to add to his tally on Sunday, winning aboard the Kelvin Tyler-trained Flash Roca before the meeting was abandoned due to poor visibility.
Cooper has come a long way in four seasons of riding and said he felt 100 wins was an impossible goal when starting off in Cambridge.
“It means the world to me because I didn’t think I would actually get there as an apprentice at the start, but once I established myself down south it looked pretty doable,” he said.
Cooper has been based in Canterbury for the last two-and-a-half years, where he has been indentured to Ross Beckett, and he is pleased he made the move from his previous base of Cambridge.
“I did enjoy Cambridge, but it was a bit difficult with the lack of opportunities and I would stress out trying to find the rides,” Cooper said. “Since I have moved down here I have got a lot more opportunities, which has been great, and I have come to call the South Island home.”
Cooper has travelled the length and breadth of the South Island to ride, but he is looking forward to one day exploring it as a tourist.
“I love it, I still haven’t had the chance to explore it on holiday, but you make the odd stop to see a place if you want to just before races,” he said.
Cooper said he has been thankful to all the trainers that have supported him, particularly a couple in Southland, and he was rapt to bring up his milestone in the region on his favourite track.
“My favourite tracks would have to Ascot Park and Wingatui, and Riccarton would be a close third,” he said. “Robert Dennis, Kelvin Tyler and Ross Beckett have been really good to me and have been my biggest supporters.”
Cooper has experienced a particularly fruitful season, having now won 39 races, two more than his previous best tally, with three of those at stakes level, including aboard Hello Hayley in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m), and Inflamed in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m).
“The highlight of this season was definitely Hello Hayley, she was exceptional, and Inflamed being my first one (stakes win) at Riccarton,” Cooper said.
The 26-year-old is now looking forward to riding a handful of horses at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Third Decree and Pure Artist in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Open Handicap (1200m) and Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge (1400m) respectively.
“I have got quite a few nice chances on Thursday, including Third Decree and Pure Artist for Michael and Matthew Pitman,” he said.
“I think Third Decree will be hard to beat because her record on the poly is one from one, and Pure Artist is a horse that does a lot wrong but on ability, if he gets it right on his day, he is hard to beat.”
Cooper is hoping to make the most of his opportunities in the saddle over the next couple of weeks, with the surgeon’s table beckoning next month, and he is hopeful he can make a return to racing prior to New Zealand Cup Week in November.
“I have had an injury recently and I am going in for surgery at the start of next month,” he said. “I am having surgery on my right shoulder, unfortunately I have dislocated it multiple times.
“They reckon if everything goes right, I will be out for four months, but if there are complications it will be five to six months.
“Getting back for New Zealand Cup Week is the plan.”
