Darwin apprentice jockey Emma Lines will make her riding debut at Fannie Bay on Friday when she partners Looking For You and Meadows Young Buck for trainer Phil Cole.
Lines follows in the footsteps of fellow apprentices Jade Hampson, Dakota-Lee Gillett and Lek Maloney, who made their debut in the Northern Territory this year.
Hampson, 18, who is now riding in South Australia, saluted in her first race in Darwin in July, while Alice Springs pair Gillett, 17, who has been riding in NSW in recent months, and Maloney, 19, kicked off their careers at Pioneer Park in July and October, respectively.
“I’m very excited, it’s been a long while and it’s been a dream of mine for a while,” Emma said on Wednesday.
“Trials and theory, yeah, I did heaps of that.
“A lot of theory through Skillinvest in South Australia for my Cert 3 track rider ticket at the start of this year and I started trials mid last year.
“I’ve been back and forth to South Australia – I think I’ve gone there about 10 times these past months.
“I’ve also been riding trials in South Australia, pretty much all over the place.
“I’ve been to Balaklava, Murray Bridge, Strathalbyn, Port Augusta and Morphettville – you name it, I’ve probably been there.
“It was last week on Tuesday when I got the green light to ride, it was a big relief.
“It was a nice Christmas present.”
The teenager’s quest to become a jockey began when she was just 13 years of age.
“I used to work for Felicia Bergstrand, one of the jockeys here in Darwin,” she said.
“She used to be my horse coach when I was doing show-jumping.
“She really got me into it as we got to know each other more and I helped her out at the track.
“And then after she left I went to Phil and Rhonda Cole about three years ago, and they taught me how to ride trackwork and everything.
“It’s always been a passion of mine, to become a jockey.
“I was doing things around the stable and I think it was a few days after my 14th birthday when I first got on a racehorse.
“I started riding in the round yard with Phil and then just slowly grew on to the track, and got better as I went along – so I have been riding for about two and a half years now.”
Emma is now counting down the hours before her first ride, and the excitement is also building at home.
“As each day gets closer I get a little bit more nervous and excited, but I just continue going to work in the morning,” she said.
“I’ve been riding trackwork every morning – just getting used to the horses and preparing for it.
“I think mum and dad (Rosa and David) are about as excited as I am.
“Mum won’t be sleeping until after Friday is over.
“They’ve always been proud and passionate for me.
“Phil said just enjoy it – you’re out there obviously to do your best.
“It doesn’t matter if I win, lose or draw – I’m going to be happy the whole day.”
Looking For You, quoted at $5 during the week, lines up in the first race over 1300m (BM54), while Meadows Young Buck, an early $4 favourite, starts in the second race over 1300m (BM54) – and both geldings will benefit from Lines’ 4kg claim.
“Yeah, Phil’s put me on two pretty decent horses for the day,” Emma said.
“Pretty simple instructions – jump, hopefully lead and steer around the corner.
“The 4kg claim helps, yeah, definitely – a lot of weight off Meadows Young Buck’s back as well.”
The six-year-old was assigned 61kg, but will now carry a manageable 57kg – eight-year-old Looking For You will lump 55.5kg.
For Emma, forging a career as a jockey and making sure that all goes smoothly come race day on Friday and in the future is her main priority.
“I did just complete my Year 11 certificate out of school, but other than that I’m just going to focus on racing and if I do want to continue school I’ll be doing it on-line,” the former Darwin High School student said.
Finally, Lines could not speak highly enough of fellow Darwin jockeys as she prepares for her first official race.
“Yeah, they’ve all been really supportive and they’ve helped me with everything that I’ve asked about the racing and all my equipment,” she said.
“My stable jockey Wayne Davis has gone above and beyond trying to help me – and does a lot for me.”
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