Kate tries luck in North
FOR new North Queensland apprentice hoop Kate Southam, it is all about building momentum in her career.
As the 27-year-old explains, she has been here, there and everywhere to try to get her life in the saddle going.
Starting in Tasmania, Southam ventured to Melbourne, then across to Western Australia and is now in North Queensland as she works on establishing herself in the riding ranks.
In the west, with a glut of apprentice riders around the state fighting for chances, Southam struggled to get consistent riding opportunities, despite her regular success.
She reached out to Shane Scriven, Racing Queensland’s senior apprentice coach, to find a place for her to see her career flourish and he pointed to Carl Spry in Townsville.
Spry is back in Queensland after a few years in the Northern Territory and Southam has transferred her apprenticeship to him for three months.
“Carl was quite a good rider, he can help me with my style and my race rides,” Southam said.
“With Carl only having a small team of horses, it also allows me to ride work for other people as well, which will help me get momentum in my career and more race rides.
“He is a great tutor, he knows how to explain things best so I can easily understand it. I had not learnt that way before.”
Southam, who claims 2kg at TAB meetings, was previously based at Simon Miller’s Racing stables in Perth and was part of the Racing and Wagering Western Australia Apprentice Jockey Training Program.
Spry, who has recently finished up as a jockey and is now attacking the training caper, said his new student rode well and was keen to learn, which he was more than pleased with.
Things did not exactly go to plan in Southam’s first Queensland ride, on Dream Piece for trainer Joao Campeao, at Home Hill earlier this month. She fell off the horse mid-race and failed to finish.
The biggest learning curve from out west to Queensland was adjusting to racing in the opposite direction, she said.
“It is just different,” Southam said.
“I do find a lot of horses want to roll out. That may just be my style because I am trying to change my muscles from going left.
“It might just be me getting used to it.
“I have noticed they do not race as tight here, they give each other a bit more room, which is a bit safer.”
Southam took two rides at Innisfail last Saturday, for one third-place finish, and will search for her first NQ winner with a solid book of rides at Cairns’ Cannon Park today.