POPPY APPEAL
Bridgwater wins over dad with stellar season
POPPY Bridgwater says a first full season as an apprentice jockey, which exceeded expectations, has helped convince her father David that she has made the right career choice.
The 20-year-old has bagged an impressive 16 wins from only 97 rides and been involved in big races like last month’s Ayr Silver Cup.
But Bridgwater says she had to win over her father, a one-time stable jockey to Martin Pipe and rider for Nigel Twiston-Davies, with big wins including the 1994 Scottish National on Earth Summit before he set up as a trainer in the Cotswolds.
Bridgwater said: ‘He didn’t want me to do it at all. He hates me saying it but, when I first said I wanted to be a jockey, he thought it was more of a man’s sport.
‘Because he was a jockey himself, he knows how tough it is with the early mornings and late nights. He was thinking about his little girl! Now he is definitely my biggest supporter. He rings me after every ride and is my biggest fan and biggest critic.’
Bridgwater left school at 15, her heart set on a racing career. Her introduction to horses came via showjumping under the guidance of mum Lucy. But she was soon riding her father’s jumpers including The Giant Bolster, the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up.
Bridgwater, who rides Shaji for her father in the 4.40 at Windsor today, said: ‘My mum rode The Giant Bolster the most, but I worked him a couple of times and I jumped him once. He looked after me.
‘Originally, I did want to go into jump racing. With my dad it would have been easier for me, but I schooled a few times and I just had no self-preservation. If there was a long stride I would let it go and I had a few falls.
‘I almost broke my ankle once — I couldn’t walk on it for a couple of weeks — but dad just told me to get straight back up and made me go straight back over the fence. I don’t think he has a sympathetic bone in his body.’
Bridgwater has flourished since teaming up with trainer Tony Carroll, her successful audition a win on Mandrinho at Wolverhampton in April.
She said: ‘My goal when I first got my apprentice licence was to have four winners in the season. I would have been happy with that. I am on 16 now. What’s happened is a dream.’