Rookie rider taking it all in
ONE of Queensland’s newest to the jockey ranks will use a trip to Ingham’s Herbert River Jockey Club this afternoon to gain experience in the saddle.
The 20-year-old Madeleine Wishart only received her final tick of approval from stewards a few days before she made her race riding debut at Chinchilla Race Club last Saturday.
Wishart works out of the Doomben-based Paul Butterworth stable and had her first two rides at Chinchilla. She will take two more for Townsville trainer Cherrie Lindgren today.
For the 51kg hoop it is all about gaining as much experience as possible before hopefully jumping on a few of Butterworth’s nice types, like Capital Gain, who won the Group 1 J.J. Atkins in June this year.
“I have ridden my whole life,” Wishart said.
“My parents own a spelling property for horses so I got to know a few trainers and I always wanted to ride.
“I tried out being a stable hand, I loved it and I have been involved since.
“At the moment I will take as many rides as I can get … it is all experience to start off with.”
Five races will be contested at Ingham this afternoon with the newcomer taking rides for Lindgren in the Benchmark 45 Handicap (Twice The Style) and Benchmark 60 Handicap (Craiglea Odyssey).
Wishart’s four kilogram claim is set to benefit both horses as they were handed over 60kg by the handicapper.
“I have had a look at their form and they both have not had a win for a while but they have been around the mark,” Wishart said.
“They both look like jump and run horses.
“Hopefully I can get them in front, take a sit and then come home strong.
“My claim will help them both.”
The first from Ingham jumps at 2.35pm this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Far North hoops Wanderson D’Avila and Amanda Thomson bagged winners at Cluden Park on Thursday afternoon.
Charters Towers trainer Ben Williams was on the money as he declared Our Alicia’s Lane the best of his three starters in the QTIS TwoYears-Old Maiden Handicap (1000m) on Thursday – and the brown colt scored by a length.
Williams trained a double, as did Mackay’s John Manzelmann at Townsville.