Mollie Fitzgerald’s journey to the race track has been a well-documented one.
The 21-year-old is the daughter of former popular jockey Malcolm Fitzgerald, famous for winning the 1990 Group 2 Villiers Stakes on Post Elect, among other Group and Listed victories.
Born in Gosford, Fitzgerald grew up in Bellingen, then Taree, and after starting as a 15-year-old, she spent more than six years riding work for Wayne Wilkes and then Tony Ball before finally making her riding debut in August.
“I guess I was always meant to be a jockey,” Fitzgerald said.
“Dad was a jockey, and I’ve grown up around horses; I was in Pony Club as a kid and always loved being around horses.
“I remember going to the beach with Dad once when he was training, and I rode one of his horses there, and that’s when I thought, ‘this is pretty great’, and it inspired me to do what I’m doing.
“I started with Wayne Wilkes and was riding work for him of a morning through the school week, and I did that for three years before I had a bit of a fall and fractured my knee.
“I started back with Tony Ball, and that’s been another three years.”
Riding for the Taree trainer, the youngster debuted on her home track in August, and at her third ride, she finished second in the Hopkins Livermore Cup aboard Ljungberg.
Still, her path to the races wasn’t all smooth sailing, and it was a short stint away from racing that had Fitzgerald convinced she was born to be a jockey.
“Once I came back from my knee injury, I wasn’t fully in it, and I rode track work but wasn’t fully committed, and I had a couple of months away working another job, and it was then I realised that racing and riding was part of my life,” Fitzgerald said.
“I came back to Tony’s and asked him if he could give me a couple of trials to see how I feel, and after that first one, I knew this was what I wanted to do, so I started to get serious about it.
“I had about 24 trials, and it took about eight months to do those, and then I was at the races.”
It took another month, but Fitzgerald broke through for her first winner and double at Bowraville on September 16.
Riding for Ballina trainer Stephen Randall, she won aboard Time Flies By in the 1000m Maiden Handicap before triumphing for her boss on Adamdeeant in the Lightning Bend Handicap (1000m).
“It was amazing,” Fitzgerald said.
“I learned more on my first race ride than I did in any trial because it is just so different.
“After that, everyone was looking for my first winner, and Tony had been so good and supportive, and to go to Bowraville and get my first and second winner and do it for my boss, it is a day I’ll never forget.”
The following week, Ball and Fitzgerald combined for success at home, with Ljungberg proving too classy in the Open Handicap (1609m).
“He’s a really nice horse, and I rode him at my debut meeting and ran second on him, and I was really eager to get a win on him,” Fitzgerald said.
“He’s a really willing horse and one of my stable favourites, and that was a really pleasing result.”
Fitzgerald will guide Ljungberg in the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup at Taree on Friday in the biggest race of her burgeoning career.
The 2000m event is a Big Dance and Little Dance qualifier, and the young hoop was ready for the challenge.
“I think the nerves are there, but I know the horse really well, and he tries for me,” Fitzgerald said.
“I don’t get a claim or anything, so it’s a big thing for Tony to still put me on, and it’s a tough race, and we’ve drawn a bit sticky, but it’s a nice long straight for us to find a spot.
“It’s his first time at this distance, too, but he’ll be there and trying towards the end.”
The young jockey appears to have some very nice chances on the Taree program, which will be her immediate focus.
Still, her future looks bright, and she is keen to learn, improve, and be the best she can be.
“I think just expanding myself in the area is the immediate goal,” Fitzgerald said.
“Tony has kind of kept me within the stable and wants me to stick with him until I get more confidence, and as time goes on, and that confidence grows, I’ll be riding for more people and getting my name out there.
“Right now, all I can focus on is improving with each race ride and learning as I go, and in the long term, I’d like to be a good, strong jockey and make a name for myself.”
