Gympie apprentice jockey in biggest win to date

14th October 2008

Print
larger | smaller

THE beaming smile of Gympie apprentice jockey Alanah Badger was as impressive yesterday as her win last Friday after the rising talent clinched her first ever provincial victory at Corbould Park Caloundra.

Badger flashed across the finish line in the feature race of the day, the 1400 metre Caloundra RSL Handicap, with a comfortable victory by two lengths on famed horse Craiglea Warrior.

It was a sweet moment for Badger, 17, apprentice to the Barry Gill Stable in Gympie, who left those gathered around the track fully aware of the feat they had witnessed.

Badger was back at the Gympie track yesterday and was clearly still in the moment of her greatest win to date.

"It's been my biggest win and I'm so excited about what I've achieved.

"In some ways, it feels like my first win and I'm enjoying the moment," she said.

Badger got off to a brilliant start in the barriers which, she says, set her up ideally for the remainder of the race. "He (Craiglea Warrior) jumped out of the gates so well. It couldn't have been a better start," she said.

The joy of that perfect start was diminished somewhat when Badger was forced three horses wide on the first bend.

But any initial concerns were quickly put to rest when Craiglea Warrior rallied and the pair found themselves pushing their way forwards through the field.

"We were ideally placed coming into the 400 and I just knew that it was a matter of steaming home," she said.

Badger enjoyed the moment as it unfolded, coasting in over the final stages of the race to register the win.

"It was a great feeling as we crossed the line and a feeling that is still with me," she said.

Badger backed up the following two days with a meets at Nanango and Caloundra.

It's little wonder, then, the jockey fast climbing the ranks was keen to get in a moment's rest yesterday morning.

"It was a packed schedule over the weekend but it all has been very worth it," she said.

Desiree Gill said the win was well earned and Badger executed the perfect race.

"The job of an apprentice jockey is to listen to their trainers and Alanah did this well," Gill said.

The lustre of the win at Caloundra was tarnished slightly with news of a six-week suspension following the meet at Nanango.

Badger was found to have caused interference in one race but received a suspension period less than the mandatory penalty due to her good record.

She will be clear to race for her next major meet, the annual Gympie Cup on October 25.