AN 18-YEAR-OLD jockey who had her licence a month won the first two races of the Cloncurry Winter Races on Saturday.
Winton’s Heidi Laffin was not scheduled to ride the first race – the QTIS Class 2 Handicap – but filled in for a jockey who was late due to a flat tyre.
Laffin stepped up to ride Doom City Dragon, and it was the first time she had ridden at Schumacher Park.
Despite racing an unfamiliar horse Laffin won with a lead of 2.5 paces.
Doom City Dragon was followed by Chomaru and the closely followed Wulfwin.
It was Laffin’s 17th race but her first victory since she gained her licence in April, according to her grandmother Beth Laffin.
Mrs Laffin said the race allowed her granddaughter to get the feel of the track before she raced in the 1200 metre Maiden Plate to ride the family owned Rockoni.
Rockoni was followed by Perdanerite and Happy to be Here.
Mrs Laffin said that she and her husband Kenneth were “tickled pink” with both wins.
Jockeys could wait a year after getting their licence before a win and yet her first was on an unfamiliar horse.
“It was really good for her and is going to give her a bit more confidence now,” Mrs Laffin said.
“She didn’t know the horse, didn’t know the track, it was her first time in the Curry too,” Mrs Laffin said.
She soon mentioned that her granddaughter was confident with horses, having had a Pony Club background. It helped her ride an unfamiliar one at the last minute.
“She doesn’t get nervous...horses seem to relax with her, the ones we’ve had with her.”
Laffin wanted to be a jockey approximately four years ago when her grandparents had difficulty finding one to ride their race horses – and she asked if she could start riding. And she did.
Her next challenge will be riding at the Mount Isa Cup this weekend.
Other results of the Winter Races on Saturday included the 1000 metre Class B Handicap.
Wilker was ridden to victory by Aaron Spradau.
They were followed by Payola.
Payola was jockeyed by Ray Hancock, and Akheilos, ridden by Tamara Tincknell.
The 1000 metre BenchMark 60 was won by Mossale, who was ridden by Shane McGovern.
Smooth Element with Tasha Chambers was second, and World of Pain with Tamara Tincknell was third.
The Sparrow Harrison Snr Memorial BenchMark 45 1400 metres was won by Larabee, which was ridden by Tamara Tincknell.
Second was Shimazu and Steven Galvin.
In third place was Omega, ridden by Tanya Parry.
