The day has finally arrived for aspiring Alice Springs apprentice jockey Dakota-Lee Gillett.
The 16-year-old daughter of prominent Red Centre owners and trainers Terry and Leanne Gillett makes her riding debut at Pioneer Park on Sunday when she partners her dad’s horse Policy.
Terry is also a former jockey.
Dakota-Lee has been a strapper for the Gillett camp on race day in the Alice for ages and has been riding track work since she was 14.
There was a stage she even thought about following in the footsteps of her parents by becoming a trainer.
Dakota-Lee started to get serious about becoming a jockey when she was 15 and was hopeful of getting her licence, but unfortunately the age limit had changed and she had to wait another year.
The teenager was signed up as an apprentice with her dad.
To improve her riding skills and technique, Dakota-Lee has had to train interstate and you can only admire her dedication as she is currently dealing with Year 12 studies as well.
So to finally get the opportunity to feature in her first race is something Dakota-Lee is looking forward to, in fact she can’t wait.
“I’m excited,” she said on Saturday.
“It’s taken a long time to get here, but it’s definitely amazing now that it’s finally come.”
It was following a meeting with David Westover, chairman of stewards in the Alice Springs region, late last week that Dakota-Lee received the green light to start her riding career.
Dakota-Lee has participated in trials and has endured continuous track work at Pioneer Park, but in her quest to attain the necessary experience she has had to travel for additional trials.
That has included Darwin, Townsville, Rockhampton, Balaklava, Murray Bridge and the Gold Coast.
She actually travelled to South Australia on Thursday for further trials at Murray Bridge where she also got to ride Dakota Lee, who was unbeaten in five Alice Springs starts from November-April under the tutelage of Terry Gillett.
The three-year-old filly, who is part-owned by Leanne Gillett, was named after Dakota-Lee and has been transferred to the stable of Strathalbyn trainer Greg Lesnikowski where she will seemingly resume racing in South Australia at some stage after a spell.
Dakota-Lee has an affinity with Dakota Lee having described her as arguably her favourite horse.
“I already had my ticket, but dad wanted me to go down and have a ride on her,” she said.
Policy was quoted as a $4.50 chance with Palmerbet on Saturday in Sunday’s $20,000 Mad Harrys 0-54 Handicap (1100m) and considering Dakota-Lee will claim 4kg and he will jump from the inside gate the six-year-old gelding is undoubtedly in the mix.
“I know Policy inside and out, he’s my little boy,” Dakota-Lee said.
“I’ve done a lot of work with him – I know everything that he’ll possibly do.
“We’re just hoping for the best tomorrow.”
Although Dakota-Lee’s riding debut was kept relatively quiet, she has already received messages of support from fellow jockeys.
The fact that she no longer has to travel is also a bonus when it comes to completing school.
More importantly, mum and dad will get to see their daughter make her riding debut at Pioneer Park.
“Dad’s over the moon,” she said.
“Mum and I went and picked up a few things like Mr Sheen and stuff ready for tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Darwin apprentice Jade Hampson escaped injury after falling from her mount Ima Puppet from the Tayarn Halter yard in the $30,000 Fusion Exhibition Rose Bowl (1300m) for the fillies and mares at Fannie Bay on Wednesday.
Sitting at the tail of the field with 400m to go approaching the home turn, the six-year-old mare clipped the heels of a fellow runner before dislodging Hampson.
The teenager immediately got to her feet and was examined by paramedics, and as a precaution was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital by ambulance where she was later released.
For the 18-year-old, it was her second fall after parting company with the Peter Stennett-trained Koa in the final race of the Darwin Turf Club’s Anzac Day meeting.
She wasn’t so lucky on that occasion injuring her ankle that kept her sidelined until June 11 where she marked her return by riding a winning double at Fannie Bay.
That Anzac Day meeting was only Hampson’s second day at the races after winning her first race in her first race start on board the Tayarn Halter-trained Pointo’s Pick on April 14.
“Ima Puppet just caught heels and I came down, no injuries – just went to the hospital for a check up,” Jade said on Saturday.
“As my horse has dipped down I’ve sort of come around the side of the neck and came under her – I was pretty lucky.
“Not ideal to have another fall, but I guess that’s racing and I’ll just keep pressing on and hopefully no more.
“Nothing has set me back from that, everything is still going OK and I’m still keen as ever.
“Back in the saddle today at Fannie Bay.”
Leading into this weekend’s racing in Darwin on Saturday and Alice Springs on Sunday, Jade had posted 10 wins from 47 starts and it didn’t take long before her 4kg claim was reduced to 3kg.
From just eight rides in Alice Springs, she had landed five winners.
In Darwin, the record stands at five wins, eight seconds and seven thirds from 39 starts.
Significantly, Jade will get to share Dakota-Lee’s special occasion on Sunday when she partners the Lisa Whittle-trained Liberty Blue, considered a $3.70 chance on Saturday, in Dakota-Lee’s first race.
And Jade couldn’t be more happy for Dakota-Lee.
“Yeah, it will be good to see another female apprentice start off in the NT and get going,” she said.
“Like myself, I know Dakota-Lee has been waiting a while to start riding, so I’m sure she is excited.”
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