Image: Racing Photography.
Eloise Drews had no winning expectations when going to Bedgerabong on Saturday, with the 22-year-old just happy to be making her riding debut for good friend Nelly Galea.
At her first ride on Stratum Fantasy, Drews finished fourth in the 1100m Maiden Plate, conceding it was a bit of a learning curve.
“My first ride was a bit hairy, and I was still getting used to everything,” Drews told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“You think riding in a trial or a gallop at home is fast, but racing is a different sort of fast.
“Especially on the track, it’s a bit different, but I had to pull it together for the 800m.”
Drews didn’t just pull it together but came out and put in one of the rides of the day to win on Japingka in the Bedgerabong Bracelet (800m).
Sitting a clear last on the home turn, Drews took a gap and came home hard and fast on the Dubbo galloper to win in a photo-finish from the Connie Greig-trained Billy Bent Ear (Leandro Ribeiro) in second and the Clint Lundholm-trained So Extra (Ricky Blewitt), which was a half-length away in third.
“It was so close, and I looked across and saw Leo, and I thought, ‘I don’t have it; he wins everything’, but Ricky rode up on the other side of me and said, ‘I think you’ve got it’, and I started to cry.
“When I was cantering back, I still didn’t know if I had it, and when I got closer to the gate, everyone was screaming, and that’s when I knew.
“Nelly was so happy, and it was just a special moment.”
What makes the win all the more extraordinary is that Galea and Drews had little expectation of a win heading into the meeting, with Japingka failing to impress in three starts this preparation.
“I had absolutely zero expectations,” Drews laughed.
“Nelly said to me, ‘Don’t be surprised if the horse gets lapped after coming out last’, but I saw this gap open, and I had to take it and run with it.
“Bashy (Sebastian Galea) told me it was going to happen quick, and when I jumped last, I thought, ‘Oh no’, but when I started passing a few, and she managed to win, it was a dream come true.”
Drews spoke with NSW Country and Picnic Racing in the lead-up to Saturday’s race, discussing her grounding in the industry and association with current leading trainers in Scone.
“I never expected to become a jockey or even go down this path, but when I did, I had so much support, and everything was so happy, and I’ve just been so lucky,” Drews said.
Coincidently, Drews’ boss and mentor, Luke Pepper, won the Bedgerabong Cup in 2003, riding the John Johnson-trained Red and Black home to victory.
The Scone-based trainer was thrilled to see Drews go on and emulate a similar feat some 21 years later.
“We’re absolutely rapt for her,” Pepper said.
“She has come a long way, and she’s had to work extremely hard to get to this point and get through her trials.
“I watched the replay of the race, and it was a bloody good ride, and she did a terrific job, and we are all so proud of her.
“Plus, there’s nothing like going to your first race meeting and riding your first winner; that hard work has paid off.”
Drews is now setting her sights on upcoming meetings at Condobolin and Tottenham.
“I haven’t actually got any rides yet for Condo, but I’m riding Japingka again at Tottenham, and that’s all I’ve got guaranteed so far,” Drews said.
Trainers can book Drews by calling 0411 197 242.
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