Lek Maloney, the step-son of Alice Springs Turf Club chairman Andrew Maloney, will make his debut as an apprentice jockey at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The 19-year-old has two rides on the five-event program, where he will partner Arrogant Miss for trainer Russell Bell and Morphling for his master Greg Connor.
Arrogant Miss, a six-year-old mare, has only just returned from a WA campaign and was a last-start third in the Red Centre behind the Lisa Whittle-trained Liberty Blue and Connor’s Intercontinental over 1000m (0-70) on September 25.
The fact that Maloney can claim 4kg will enhance the hopes of Arrogant Miss (54.5kg) in the opening race over 1200m (0-64), which will also feature Connor’s pair Trystoff (Dan Morgan) and Intercontinental (Jessie Philpot).
Maloney will then partner Morphling for Connor in the second race, a Benchmark 54 over 1200m, and although the five-year-old mare will also benefit from a 4kg claim by carrying 51kg, she will have to turn the form book upside down after producing poor results of late.
Regardless how the cards fall this weekend, it will no doubt be an exciting occasion for Lek and a proud moment for the Maloney family.
The fact that Maloney has joined the jockey ranks in Alice Springs is also a bonus after fellow apprentice Dakota-Lee Gillett departed for NSW recently to further her skills and experience.
Paul Denton, Jessie Philpot, Ianish Luximon, Dan Morgan and the injured Lorelle Crow are the only jockeys based in Central Australia, so Maloney is certainly a welcome addition.
After completing trials in Alice Springs, Adelaide and Western Australia, as well as enduring endless trackwork, Connor is adamant Maloney has got what it takes to make it as a jockey.
“Lek’s been with me for close on 12 months now – he’s a talented kid, got plenty of natural attributes,” the trainer said.
“It’s taken him a long time to get to this point.
“He has had a few losses along the way – some kids fall off the rail as they’re going along.
“Hopefully, I’ve been able to pick him up and get him going.
“He’s just got something that makes him tick over that makes you think this kid will do alright.
“You see a kid kick a football or a soccer ball, do a mono on a push bike or swing a golf stick and sometimes you just think that kid’s got something.”
Connor, a highly successful Alice Springs trainer who has also enjoyed plenty of wins in Darwin over the years, said Maloney now faces a mental challenge, adding that he will have to show plenty of application in his quest to become a successful jockey.
It appears the youngster is on course as the reports coming back from Adelaide after taking part in trials were that trainers were happy with him, and according to Connor the feedback from fellow riders has also been positive.
“Lek is confident in the saddle, he just has to focus and use a bit of common sense,” Connor said.
“It’s only a month ago I suppose I got him to trial one of my horses and I said, ride it, treat it like a race and he actually looked really good on it.
“When the pressure is on come race day it will be different, but I’ve got confidence in him that he’ll do the right thing.”
Maloney, who was born in Thailand, was raised in Alice Springs after his mother, Rose, married his step-father, Andrew, and Connor has plenty of admiration for the teenager, who at times struggles with his English.
“A lot of people struggle with his English, but I understand him now after having worked with him for some time,” he said.
“We have quite a good relationship – he’s a funny kid, always makes everyone laugh.
“He’s been back to Thailand a few times to see his grandparents – the family has a business over there.
“Lek spent time with other Alice Springs trainers and they played an important role in his education before going to WA to work for trainer Steve Wolfe.
“He has this uncanny natural ability that you see in some people and he’s learning the industry much better than what he knew about it 12 months ago.”
To emphasize the exuberance that clearly runs through Lek’s veins, Connor was brought to laughter after recalling a moment from a few years ago.
“Fellow Alice Springs trainer Lisa Whittle had just bought a yearling,” he said.
“The guy that told the story, he certainly knew what he was talking about.
“He said, you wouldn’t believe it, but Lisa had bought this yearling from the sales and it was in the round yard and it had a rug on it and it’s just walking around.
“Lek’s standing on the rails and he just jumped on the back of this horse and held on to it by the rug.
“He was only about 13 or 14 at the time, and he just rode this unbroken horse.
“He said that it was quite amazing that he even stayed on it, just hanging on to the rug.”
More horse racing news
