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Sanson enjoying venture north

Apprentice jockey Maria Sanson has made the move north from Awapuni where she has signed on to complete her apprenticeship under Matamata trainer Danica Guy.

The 26-year-old partnered the Guy-trained Monza to victory in a 900m trial at Taupo on Tuesday and is enjoying her time at the busier Matamata training centre, having relocated in early May.

"I've moved up to the Waikato to be under Danica now for the rest of my apprenticeship," Sanson said.

"Monza is one that Danica bred herself and has always been part of her system. He is quite a nice easy ride and he went well today in his trial.

"My partner lives and works in Cambridge and we were travelling between Palmerston North and Cambridge all the time to see each other, so it just made sense for one of us to move."

Sanson, who graduated from Massey University with a conjoint Bachelor of Business and BA majoring in International Business Management and Politics, has three wins to her name over the past 12 months of riding and is hoping to snare more rides in the north given her ability to ride light.

"My book weight is 50 kilos, so I can claim four kilos off pretty much everything on the card, which helps as I don't have to pick and choose what weights to ride at," she said.

"I am enjoying being at Matamata. It is very professional."

Jason Belltree Hong Kong bound

Group Two performed three-year-old Jason Belltree is set to continue his racing in Asia after recently being sold to Hong Kong interests.

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained gelding had a pleasing Classic season, finishing runner-up in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).

Pleased with his three-year-old term, his trainers believe he will be ideally suited to racing in Hong Kong.

"He should really suit racing up in Hong Kong, I think he is best at a mile," Cooksley said.

Meanwhile, stablemate Gino Severini is back in work ahead of his spring campaign.

"He is back in and I will just bring him along slowly," Cooksley said. "He will follow a similar path to last year, but we will just see how he comes up. He will tell us."

The rising eight-year-old gelding's season was highlighted by his victory in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie last November.