GINO Carenza might have missed out on the Amateur Riders Championship but his elevation to professional status was secured this week, writes Mervyn Collins.

The 20-year-old former Broa-dway First and Prince Henry's High School pupil joins the professional ranks of jockeys after a successful amateur career that took off this year when his tally of 19 wins left him just three short of Chris-tian Williams in the championship standings.

"It's been a terrific season and I hope to continue in the same vein," Carenza admitted. "I will get more rides as a pro and I hope to make a good living from it - I didn't do too bad last year."

Carenza, who now lives in Middleham, North Yorkshire, still has family in Broadway and Evesham, and it was perhaps ironic that his final ride as an amateur was his first at Stratford - and so close to home.

Carenza went straight into racing as a 16-year-old from Prince Henry's when he joined David Nicholson at Jackdaws Castle.

"I learnt a lot with David but I had become involved in racing before then after school and at weekend's" he recalled.

He then teamed up with Tom George at Slad in Gloucester-shire before the move that really forwarded his career when he joined Mick Easterby.

Carenza enjoyed one bumper week with a three-timer among a handful of rides a couple of months ago but he couldn't quite keep pace with Williams, who received the trophy from Stan Mellor last Saturday.

The Broadway-born jockey stands 6'2" and is one of the tallest in the sport but he's certainly not got his head in the clouds!

"My ambition is to make a living as a pro," Carenza, who has ridden 25 winners under rules and ten Point-to-Point winners, revealed.

"I've been with Mick for 15 months and things have gone really well and I just hope we can keep it going in the professional ranks."