Skye flies home for quick visit
Life and a successful career have carried her to Perth, but when it comes to where her heart lies there are few places like home for Skye Bogenhuber.
The five-time premier Clifford Park jockey is currently on a short visit to Toowoomba.
The opportunity to drop into her former home town follows a rare riding suspension which handed her a short break from duties in Western Australia where she is building the next stage of her riding career.
Bogenhuber left Toowoomba in May with a sixth successive Clifford Park premiership win in sight to reunite with her partner and former Clifford Park course manager Chris Nation.
Nation departed Clifford Park earlier this year to take up an offer from Perth Racing Club to manage its Belmont and Ascot tracks.
Bogenhuber has ridden 18 West Australian winners since taking the plunge into new and challenging territory.
She has adapted to the busy Perth lifestyle, which comes with the bonus of nearby beaches, but this week’s Toowoomba stopover is about reconnecting with what she has left behind — including her four horses.
Bogenhuber’s horse collection includes broodmare Temple Girl and her Bel Esprit foal at foot, left in good care at Westbrook on the city’s outskirts.
“It’s great being back for the week and catching up with everyone and having the chance to see my horses,” Bogenhuber said yesterday.
“I miss the contact with them and it’s just lovely to seen them again and having time to spend with them.
“I’ve been riding a bit of
❝I really think the change has helped improve my riding. — Skye Bogenhuber
work for Michael (Nolan) while I’ve been here and I’ve jumped out a couple just to help keep my fitness up for when I start back riding next Tuesday.
“I really miss a lot of things about Toowoomba.
“I’ve formed a lot of associations here like Michael and Tony (Sears) and and it’s been my home for a long time now.”
After making a solid West Australian start on provincial and country tracks, Bogenhuber’s next goal is breaking into more regular metropolitan riding.
A flying Saturday visit to Clifford Park is also in the pipeline.
“I’ve ridden 18 winners since I’ve been in Western Australia, and I’m happy with that,” Bogenhuber said.
“I’ve been riding a heap of work and I’d like to start getting a few more rides in town, but I’m just taking it as it comes.
“I really think the change from Toowoomba has helped improve my riding.
“I enjoy riding in the other direction and I do think the different riding style over there will help make me a better rider.
“I’m lucky I still have Ken Waller back here helping me with my rides and giving me any advice he can.
“It would be nice to come back here on a weekend when I’m free and have a couple of rides.
“I’d like to get back and test myself at Clifford Park when the chance arises, just to get the feel of it again.
“But I’ll just have to wait and see when that’s possible.
“Chris and I are kept pretty busy.
“Chris is loving it over there and is doing a great job at the two tracks.”