There will soon be a new apprentice jockey in the Central and Western Districts, with Jess Del Frari eying a return to the racing saddle.
Having worked for the late Gwenda Markwell and most recently, Kerry Parker, the 27-year-old has made the move from the Illawarra region to Forbes in the state’s Central West, where she is riding work with former Kembla Grange trainer, Melissa Harrison.
With nearly 700 rides and 54 wins to her name, Del Frari boasts a rare mix for a 1.5kg claiming apprentice, including experience and maturity.
Still, she conceded there had been some tough times before quitting riding midway through 2024.
“Just mentally, I needed a break,” Del Frari said.
“I got myself in a depressed loop, thinking I wasn’t good enough as I was only getting one ride here and there, and it ate me alive.
“Taking a step back has been the best thing for me, as it made me think about it all, and it showed me that I missed it more than I thought I would.”
When asked about her motives behind the move to Forbes and an eventual return to race riding, Del Frari touched on a newfound motivation to make her mark in the current riding ranks.
“I needed a change, and I want to get back to race riding,” Del Frari said.
“I thought my best shot would be to go out to the country and give it a good go before I finish off my claim.
“Even when I went part-time while doing traffic control, I never really stepped away, and up until the move here, I would have been riding 8-12 horses a morning at Kembla, depending on the day, so I think it will be a fairly easy transition back to race riding.”
With her weight in check and the Harrison stable behind the apprentice jockey, the team is now waiting on Racing NSW approval before Del Frari is back at the trials.
“My weight is good; I’m 56kg now, but it is dropping easily,” Del Frari said.
“Before I was eating and doing whatever I wanted, but I’m back into it now, and Mel has always had my back, and that’s why I thought it would be good to give it a try out here.
“I have always been that type of jockey, and I’ll take the rides where I can get them. I am now just waiting for my license to be approved, and after that, the stewards would like me to do about ten trials, and then I’ll be back at the races.”
