Scott Sweedman is one of country racing’s unheralded hardworkers, and right now, the Inverell-based jockey is reaping the rewards.
Striking at a 19.5% win rate over the past year, Sweedman is regularly crossing the border to ride winners at Queensland non-TAB meetings.
Since the beginning of May alone, Sweedman has ridden a treble at Quilpie on May 9, individual victories at Longreach on May 10 and Roma on June 20, and winning doubles at Cunnamulla on June 6, and Roma on July 11 and August 1.
Much of that success has come in partnership with trainer Ben Waldron. The pair have combined 75 times for 17 wins and 23 minor placings, boasting an impressive 22.5% win rate and a 9% ROI.
“I’ve been having a bit of luck,” Sweedman told Country Punter.
“Ben and I linked up at St George races in September last year, and since then I’ve been doing most of his riding. I’ll help him out whenever I can.”
The pair came agonisingly close to landing the $200,000 2026 Battle of the Bush Final at Eagle Farm on June 27, with Ka Bling finishing second in the 1200m Quality Handicap after a sensational performance.
“I thought I had won it too,” Sweedman laughed.
“It was good to get a result like that. Ben and I have had our fair share of luck.”
That luck has continued, with the pair landing back-to-back Roma doubles – Pocket Eights and Ivory Frost prevailing on July 11, before Peshwa and Ivory Frost combined to win again on August 1.
For Sweedman, he’s simply grateful for the opportunities and riding with enough confidence to make the most of them.
“Not wanting to sound cocky, but I am pretty confident at the moment,” Sweedman said.
“Ben does a great job. I know I ride for him and I’m biased, but I don’t think there is any better out there.
“His horses look immaculate. He has staff, but he leaves no stone unturned – he puts in a lot of hours and has a real crack.”
Sweedman makes the long trip to Cunnamulla on Saturday with a full book of rides, four of them for Waldron, and several that will take some beating.
Following a first-up placing over 900m at Roma on August 1, Liberty Calls (barrier 4, 58.5kg) looks to be knocking on the door of a maiden win in the 1000m Maiden Plate.
Last-start Roma placegetter Solar Surfer (barrier 5, 59kg) gets in with a handy weight in the 1000m Class 3 Plate, while last-start winners Pocket Eights (barrier 3, 61kg) and Here I Come (barrier 1, 61kg) line up in the 1200m Benchmark 60 Handicap and 1400m Benchmark 55 Handicap respectively.
“The maiden should just win,” Sweedman said of Liberty Calls.
“She should have won at Roma the other day. She was on one rein from the 400m as I was trying to keep her straight, so she’ll be better for the run.
“They are all chances. I know they are only five-horse fields, but with the book of rides I’ve got, they should all be amongst it.”
The trip to Cunnamulla will see Sweedman cover roughly 1350km in a round trip – no small feat, particularly given he is currently holding the fort at home while his partner, Inverell trainer Danni Schreck, travels abroad.
“I’m doing massive kilometres, but one of Ben’s major owners is at St George and we’ve been mates for about 20 years, so I’ll drive to St George and jump in with him on the way to Cunnamulla,” Sweedman said.
“Plus, I’m minding the fort at home. We have six in work, so it’s pretty busy.”
It’s a demanding life, but for a jockey who has quietly gone about his craft for years, the winners and opportunities are a well-earned reward – and by the look of things, there are plenty more to come.
