Young jockey schools rivals to clinch Cup
A Tough-as-nails TAB Townsville Cup win is the perfect launching pad for a riding career, but for young apprentice Elyce Smith it could prove to be a perfect swan song.
The 22-year-old apprentice had to fight her way out of trouble and hold off a valiant late challenge to drive across the line on board five-year-old gelding Shiranda.
Smith became only the third female jockey to lift the Townsville Cup and delivered a fourth victory to Mackay behemoth John Manzelmann.
It has also given Smith a few headaches, with the jockey set to end her race-riding career at the end of the year to take up a profession as a teacher.
Smith has juggled her university degree through her apprenticeship, which will come to an end after her final exams later this year.
“I have always planned to go into the teaching world. I have studied for four years now and it has always been my dream,” Smith said.
“But we might have to wait and see now.”
It was a gallant effort from the young jockey who had been driven wide on the track at the first turn after getting a check in running from fellow apprentice Emily Baxter on Buxton.
Manzelmann said he had not worried about the short turnaround and knew the gelding had more in him than that 10th place suggested.
“The track didn’t suit him in town on the weekend. If you watch it, he just threw the towel in as soon as he got in the heavy going,” Manzelmann said.
“But we got him back in the good going and he is a good horse.
“My horses are pretty fit, they cop it week in and week out so the back-up was least of my worries.
“I am extremely happy. I was really happy that he held on. With about 20 to go I thought he was a sitting duck, but he showed plenty of guts.”
It was also a shock victory for part-owners Deb and Joe Zarb, with Shiranda being their first horse purchase.
Mrs Zarb was lost for words at Cluden Park as she lifted the Cup high into the air.
“It is great. (I am feeling) everything. I never thought we would have a horse this good. John is just amazing,” she said.
Stephen Wilson came within a whisker of creating history in the Cup as he mounted a late charge in the middle of the track on $21 outsider Tunero.
If he had pipped the young apprentice he would have become the first trainer-jockey to win the Cup.