Racing's ups also fall down

RIDING a racehorse can be akin to that of a roller-coaster – having its ups and downs to which star Rockhampton apprentice jockey Alisha Taylor can ruefully attest.

It only took a split second during the closing stages of a $35,000 QTIS Bonus 600 juvenile race at Rockhampton on June 24 to leave Alisha crestfallen after what looked certain victory on Mr Khan turned into tragedy.

Mr Khan had raced to the lead in the final 100 metres of the race when he broke down, dumping Alisha onto the track in front of a packed grandstand on Rockhampton Newmarket Handicap Day.

By cruel fate, Alisha’s subsequent injury of a broken left arm robbed her of a very real chance of becoming the first female jockey – let alone an apprentice one – to win the Rockhampton Jockey’s premiership since it’s inception in the late 1800s.

“Had Mr Khan won I would have been equal with Luke Dillon with another six weeks of the season to go. It was bad luck but I was more upset at the time with the horse having to be put down”, Alisha said.

Regardless, even by not riding for the remainder of the season, Alisha in only her second full season of race riding had amassed sufficient winners during 2009/10 to win a Queensland apprentice’s jockey title.

Last Saturday night at the gala 2010 Racing Queensland Awards ceremony at the Sofitel, Brisbane, teenage Alisha, 18, stood proud among the movers and shakers of Queensland’s racing industry.

With 55 winners, Alisha was named Non-South-East Queensland Provincial and Country Apprentice of the Year.

“It was a great thrill – very exciting to be recognised in that way,” Alisha said yesterday.

Asked what she considered were her most memorable riding feats of the season, Alisha opted for Bowen and Emerald Cup winners on Otto’s Delight trained by her father Garnett Taylor.

Alisha doesn’t do anything by half measures, as winners didn’t just come in drips and drabs, as winning trebles flowed throughout the season at Yeppoon and Rockhampton.

Last Wednesday, Alisha was cleared to return to riding track work at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park racecourse.

“I hope to be back race riding in Rockhampton on Thursday week,” she said after taking part in barrier trials at Keppel Park, Yeppoon yesterday.

There are no prizes for guessing what Alisha’s goal is for the current racing season in Rockhampton which commenced on August 1.

“I definitely want to win the jockey’s premiership. I’ll be out there to do that despite missing the first month,” she said.

While that pressing ambition is down the track, Alisha will be the recipient of another award at the Rockhampton Jockey Club’s annual function at Rockhampton’s Kalka Palms Hotel on Sunday, September 19.

She will be presented with her award as champion Rockhampton apprentice jockey for the 2009/10 season at which Luke Dillon will be presented with his premier jockey’s trophy.

Rockhampton Jockey Club chief executive officer Denis Cox said tickets were on sale at Callaghan Park at $30 for the luncheon and bookings could be made by calling the club on 4927 1300.