Photo: Racing Photography.
Ronald Simpson has quickly become one of the more popular apprentice jockeys in the Western and Central Districts.
The 23-year-old, who linked up with the Clint Lundholm yard earlier this year, has ridden 12 winners since the beginning of April, taking his career total to 42.
On Sunday, Simpson enjoyed his best day in the saddle at Wellington, with the Dubbo hoop bringing up a treble.
Riding for Lundholm, he won on Notabadidea ($5) in the 1400m Benchmark 74 Handicap and Obey ($6.50) in the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
He split those victories with his most impressive win on the Dar Lunn-trained Pants On Fire ($5.50) in the 1400m Class One Handicap.
A humble Simpson was reluctant to talk about his success, and instead, he thanked Lundholm and Lunn for the opportunities.
“I’m just happy to ride,” Simpson said.
“I just want to be consistently riding, and that’s the best thing about being with Clint; those opportunities keep popping up, and some days, I might go for two or three rides, and some days, I might get more, but everything is starting to fall into place.
“I now know that you can have the ups and downs, but you’ve got to keep going around, going to work, getting the job done, and going to races and try and perform to your best.”
The indigenous hoop, fondly known as ‘Black Magic’, has started to generate a bit of a cult following, and Simpson said he is beginning to own the moniker and appreciate the support from fans and punters.
“It’s stuck to me now,” Simpson laughed when asked how he felt about the nickname.
“The boss I’ve got now; he gave it to me, and even the big boys call me that now.
“I’m used to it, and I like it, with everyone sort of calling it out after races and things like that.”
From Brewarrina, Simpson was always around the racing game, and he kicked off his career on Melbourne Cup Day, 2017, winning on the Connie Greig-trained Butterfly Sky at only his third ride.
Injuries and time away from racing mean Simpson is still a two-kilogram claiming apprentice, and he touched on what has been a rocky road back to race riding.
“I started off in 2015, and I was race riding in 2017, but I had a fall, bad feet (Plantar fasciitis), and injuries,” Simpson said.
“Then I had another bad fall at Coonabarabran in 2018 and had a year off, and I came back in 2019 and went down to Sydney with a legend down there called Les Bridge.
“I had a mate riding there at the time, and I just went down for the experience to ride trackwork and more or less learn how to ride again.
“It was a good experience, but I got a bit homesick, so I came home and was riding a bit of trackwork for Clint and Kody (Nestor) when he was still training, and then I went to Gulgong with Brett Thompson, and after that, I had another break.”
Tragedy then struck Simpson’s family with the passing of his older brother David.
“Went I went back home, I was there for a year but pretty much spent two years out of the saddle,” Simpson said.
“Then my older brother committed suicide, and it really made me think about life and everything and going back to riding and getting back on the straight and narrow.
“It’s not something you want to think about, but the whole thing made me stronger and made me think about what I wanted to do.”
Simpson soon went back to Sydney before linking up with Clint Lundholm, and he has since gone on to make an impact in 2023, booting home winners all over the place.
“I went back down to Les Bridge and had a year there, and he was good, and he taught me so much, but he doesn’t have the horses in work like he used to, so I made a move back to the country with the plan to finish my apprenticeship with Clint,” Simpson said.
“I came here at the start of the year, and to be honest, I went at the right time, and he gave me opportunities straight away and kept putting me on.
“It’s easy with Clint; if you get the work done and keep him happy, the opportunities will be there.
“He’s not really a boss but more of a mate, and if you look after him, he’ll look after you, and that’s what I like about riding for him.”
Simpson hopes to continue riding winners, as he wants to set an excellent example for young indigenous men and women.
“This is the best I’ve ever felt,” Simpson said.
“I used to party and all that, but I’ve got my head down and arse up, and I go to work and go to the races, and I want to save some money and buy a property back at home and run cattle.
“Not many young indigenous fellas own big 15,000 acre blocks back home, but I want to show everyone it can be done.”
For now, racing is Simpson’s focus, and he will turn out at Dubbo on Friday with a full book of rides for Clint Lundholm, Dar Lunn, Brett Robb, and Garry Lunn on the eight-race program.
For Dubbo’s fields, click here.
