AT the start of this year, I had it in my head that it would be my last as a jockey.

I had been champion apprentice in Tasmania in 2024 and, 12 months on, I lost my claim. I wanted to give it a go as a senior rider before hanging up my boots and trying something else.

However, after riding 74 winners this season, including a first listed and group race winner, I found it too hard to walk away.

I didn’t come from a racing background, although my auntie did some show jumping. I would have got into horses through her. When I was around four, I started getting riding lessons at Broad Meadows Equestrian Centre in Ashbourne. I would have done a bit of show jumping during primary and early secondary school.

During transition year, I spent a week with trainer Dermot McLoughlin. After finishing that, I continued to go in every weekend. He put me up on a quiet hunter after a few weeks and I then moved on to the racehorses. Conor Maxwell mentioned RACE to me and, from then on it was my only goal.

Placement

I spent 10 months in RACE and did my placement with Dermot Weld. I was at Rosewell House for a year and a half or two years after graduating. Much of that was spent down in the yearling yard, where I worked with Tommy Treacy and Derek McCormack.

I eventually got my licence out with Gordon Elliott and had two rides on the track for him. To be honest, I didn’t know much about either; I just held on!

I got to the stage where I was sick of riding work but not getting the opportunities in races. One of my friends in Weld’s, Lauren Govern was out in Australia and, she kept telling me to come out.

In 2019, I went to Chris Waller in Sydney. I spent a few months riding track work but I didn’t get any spins on the track. I didn’t have any set plans on whether to stay or not.

Tasmanian apprentice

A friend of mine, Sean O’Donovan, was working in Tasmania. He knew that trainer Adam Trinder was looking for an apprentice and said that I should give it a go.

I went to meet Adam and we got on immediately. He signed me on as stable apprentice and I have been here ever since.

Both Adam and his partner Leah have been brilliant to me throughout my six and a half years in Tasmania.

I had to be there for six months before I could take out my licence. When that time arrived, I broke my hand and Covid hit shortly after. It was a difficult time.

I had my first ride in 2021. On my seventh ride, I rode my first ever winner. I actually rode a double that afternoon. I rode out my 4kg claim pretty quickly and, got down to 3kg.

To be honest, I probably did too much too soon and was claiming 1 1/2 kilos before I knew it. I was still only learning my craft, so the additional claim would have been hugely beneficial. I was champion apprentice in 2024.

In February of the following year, I finished my apprenticeship. I was then stood down for three months due to Visa issues. I couldn’t work at all. To be fair to Adam, after I lost my claim, he still had me as stable jockey. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without his continued support.

Rethink

Given how well this season has gone, I’ve had to rethink my plans. It would be very hard to walk away right now. We have some really nice horses to look forward to for next year again, so I’m optimistic about the future.

At some stage, I’d love to spend a bit of time in America. It would be amazing to ride over there but if not, even riding track work would be a great experience. I know that long term, I want to stay involved in the racing industry in some capacity.

Ireland will always be home to me and I plan on coming back at some stage. At the same time, Tasmania has been very good to me and I know that I would have real opportunities to train or build some alternative career over here.

For now, however, I am intent on concentrating on my riding career.

Erica was in conversation with John O’Riordan.