Another picnic jockey will make their debut on Saturday, with Sydney-based amateur Izzy Neale locked in to ride at Condobolin.
The Scone product recently moved to the John Thompson stable in Sydney, and the 19-year-old will team up with Daniel Stanley when riding Scruff’s Magic in the 1100m Class One Trophy Handicap.
Neale chased the ride, and she was thankful that Stanley was willing to back an unknown product.
“I actually called him last week, and he was really lovely and wanted to have a chat with me, which was nice,” Neale told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“I saw that he had Bush Warrior in this week, and I know that he is a bit of a puller, and he likes to put more experienced jockeys on, but I saw he had another horse in, and I called him straight away, and he put me on.
“It’s really good because he has never seen me ride, and for me, it will be good to go out there and give myself some experience and show people how I ride. I can introduce myself to other trainers and kick things off.”
Neale is looking forward to the opportunity and confident she can put in a good effort on debut.
“I am feeling confident,” she said.
“It’s my first ride, and everyone is going to be a bit nervous, and I am a bit nervous, but once I had a couple of trials under me, I felt really good, and I’ve learned how to use my stick and ride one out.
“I’m just really looking forward to the experience.”
Neale is not from a racing family but has been around horses her entire life.
“I’ve always been around horses, but nothing to do with racing, and if anything, my parents were iffy about me getting into racing,” Neale laughed.
“I’ve always ridden since I was a baby and grew up riding Stock Horses and Quarter Horses and doing camp drafting, barrel racing and those sorts of things.”
Another product of the Rod Northam stable, similar to last week’s debutant, Eloise Drews, Neale learned her trade during a two-year stint with the Scone stable.
“My first job was at a stud, then I went to a different stud (Evergreen Stud Farm) and was doing yearling prep there, and in the off-season, they did pre-training, and that sparked my interest, and they were happy to put me on,” Neale said.
“Then I went to Pat Farrell, and that is where I rode proper racehorses before I eventually went to Rod’s.
“I wanted to do my apprenticeship, but it was no secret that I struggled with my weight, and one day he asked how my weight was going.
“Rod never really asked about my weight as he didn’t want me to stress. I said, ‘Not great’, and he told me to give it a go at the picnics for a season or two and said, ‘Get paid for it without worrying about your weight’.”
Neale first trialled at Scone in October, jumping aboard the Lyle Chandler-trained Writersofthestorm, and was cleared after her 13th at Tamworth on February 3.
“I got through my trials and had my last won on Bijara for Cody Morgan at Tamworth, and now I’m a full-time trackwork rider in the morning, I do stable work in the afternoon, and can ride at the picnics on the weekend,” Neale said.
“I wanted to move to Sydney, and Rod and Rachel (Northam) were happy to see me go and grow my wings, and I’ve been with John Thompson for about three weeks.”
Neale is happy to travel if given the opportunity and is looking for more rides at Condobolin on Saturday, ahead of meetings at Yass (February 24), Tottenham (March 2), Crookwell (March 9), Ardlethan (March 16), Tullibigeal (March 23), and Bourke (March 31).
To book Izzy Neale, please call 0400 973 060.
