After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday.
Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month.
“It didn’t feel like as much of a step-up for me which was quite good, I got to have the basics of race riding in the amateurs,” Woller said.
“It is a bit more competitive now with the whip use.”
She picked up a second placing on another of Isdale’s contingent Pontardawe during April but headed to Trentham in pursuit of an elusive win partnering Kevin Myers’ five-year old, who was on debut and the outsider at $54.
The early part of the race didn’t go as she had planned with Quid travelling wide near the tail of the field into the first bend, but he travelled kindly along the back straight as stablemate Winewomenandsong controlled the pace up-front.
Quid tracked the widest again turning for home as the field fanned across the track, the long Trentham straight playing in his favour as the gelding wound up strongly down the outer and chased down Paradis, taking the win by a long neck.
Woller was thrilled to collect her first success and expressed her gratitude to Myers post-race.
“It was lovely, he just travelled up really nicely and I’m very grateful to Kevin for putting me on. He’s a nice horse,” she said.
“I was a bit worried being wide, but I found some cover, and as soon as he straightened up he dug really deep.”
The 17-year-old was born in Wanganui and returned to the River City recently to gain some experience under Myers, who rewarded her with the ride aboard the son of Rios.
“I just thought I’d come down and get some more experience somewhere different, and I’m really loving it down here,” Woller said.
“I grew up riding ponies all my life, and my sister was working as ground staff for Shelley Houston, so I went in one day to help out and I haven’t looked back since.
“I went from Shelley’s to Clinton Isdale, and he mentioned about me getting my license, so we got onto that and here I am now.”
Myers also spoke after Woller’s win, indicating Quid may commence his career over fences sooner rather than later, following in the footsteps of full-brother Lochwinnoch and half-brother Yardarm, the latter a former winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) and Wellington Steeplechase (5500m).
“It was good for her (Woller), she was lucky to be on this horse as she was a bit overweight but she’s done the work at home over the past week, so we’ve given her the chance,” Myers said.
“The Wallace’s (owners) sit back and wait for their horses (to mature), but he’s gone well at the jumping trials. He’ll probably go over the jumps next weekend.”
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