When someone as eminently qualified as Gordon Spinks heaps praise on a new apprentice, you tend to take it on board. The former star Sydney jockey was on the phone last week to spread the word about a seventeen year old Gold Coast rookie called Jace McMurray.
Gordon knows better than most what’s required to compete successfully as a junior and to make the transition to the senior ranks. He was a standout apprentice in the 1960’s under the tutelage of the legendary Theo Green, who helped develop the talents of a galaxy of riding stars. He joined the Green stable just six months before Ron Quinton arrived from Mendooran. Eighteen months later Green proudly declared he had the two best junior riders in Australia.
Gordon Spinks was still an apprentice when he won races like the Rosehill Guineas and Queensland Derby on Dark Briar for T.J. Smith. Just a few months before coming out of his time he landed the Doncaster and All Aged Stakes double on Unpainted for the same trainer. He later added to his CV a Doomben $10,000 on Black Onyx, a Champagne Stakes on Anjudy, an AJC Metropolitan on Wiedersehen and numerous other stakes races. Is it any wonder Gordon’s assessment of Jace McMurray’s potential carries weight.
Wiedersehen seen here in Rosehill win, was Gordon's first Gr.1 winner after coming out of his time. He partnered the gelding in the 1968 AJC Metropolitan.
“I’ve watched most high profile apprentices since I quit the saddle more than thirty years ago,” said Gordon. “I doubt I’ve seen one do any more than this young bloke has achieved in just seven weeks of race riding. He’s obviously had the right advice all the way through, and was well grounded before going to the races for the first time. I don’t attend too many race meetings these days but I made a special trip to Gympie recently just to have a close look at him. I liked what I saw.”
Gordon Spinks caught up with Jace McMurray at the Gympie meeting 13/04/2024.
Jace was conscious of a butterfly or two as he arrived at Gatton on March 30th, his first day as a professional jockey. Perhaps the trouble he struck on the first of his three rides will be a lifetime reminder that nothing should be taken for granted. Jace was stunned when he lost the off side stirrup iron as Flying Milo bounded out of the gates in an 860m “flutter”. Unable to regain the iron, he could do little more than concentrate on keeping his seat. Although never on the track he still managed to sool Flying Milo along, finishing fifth just three lengths behind the winner Maltali. “It wasn’t the best way to start but these things happen,” said Jace. “All I wanted to do was get the horse home safely for trainer Josh Sweeney who’d given me a chance on my first day.”
The mishap was probably still playing on his mind when he rode Marleedoone two races later for his master Adam Campton. The six year old mare got too far back in the 1100m Cl 1 and wound up midfield, but Jace was chuffed to get another outing under his belt. The very next race was the Laidley Cup over 1600m - just a modest provincial Cup carrying an even more modest purse of $11,000. To seventeen year old Jace a Cup’s a Cup, and he was thrilled to be entrusted with the ride on Avenue Of Stars by Gold Coast trainer Jonny Field who’d been closely monitoring the young jockey’s progress. The powerfully built six year old bounded straight to the lead and raced generously throughout to record an emphatic win. Not many apprentices get to attend a trophy presentation after their third race ride. Most onlookers shared the view that this would be the first of many for Jace McMurray.
Avenue Of Stars led throughout to win the Laidley Cup for Jace and trainer Jonny Field - courtesy Trackside Photography.
A trophy on his very first day at the races - courtesy Trackside Photography.
Just over eight weeks later the young jockey’s statistics make interesting reading. He bounced off the Laidley Cup win with a victory in the Grand Old Lady 100 Club Cup at Gympie on Late Night Devil for trainer Trevor Thomas, followed by a Kilcoy win on Italian Virtuoso for Trevor Lambourn. On May 9th he was at Warwick where he bagged a double on Stormtrooper for Brett Sturgess and Diamond Lass for Danny Bougoure. One week later his boss Adam Campton took him to Grafton where he scored on Hidden Melody. On May 20th Jace journeyed to Chinchilla where another double came his way - New York Gal from the Mark Currie stable and Rodney Hay’s Sequacious. He was at Gatton last Friday to bag his third double in fifteen days - Smiling Zac and Union Spirit both trained by Mark Currie. Summary reads 53 rides for 11 wins, and 6 placings - a dream start for a youngster who just a few years ago was much more at home on a surfboard than he would have been on a racehorse.
Jace tried to look unfazed as he returned to scale on Hidden Melody at Grafton - courtesy Trackside Photography.
It’s not as though Jace was completely oblivious to the existence of the Australian racing industry. He’d heard a lot about the sport from his paternal grandfather Mick McMurray who’d tried his hand as a jockey in the 1970’s. He was apprenticed to Vic Thompson Snr and actually rode a handful of winners before weight put him out of play. Mick stayed in the game for a few years working for the astute Rosehill trainer Kevin Hayes. His colourful recollections of the horses and horsemen he’d known slowly whetted his grandson’s appetite. Jace found himself spending more and more time watching the Sky Racing coverage. One day the teenager both surprised and delighted his grandfather when he expressed an interest in learning about stable life. This is where former successful jockey and trainer Allan Denham came into the equation. Allan’s riding career lasted only seven years during which time he landed an impressive 400 winners and won a Sydney apprentice’s premiership.
“Mick McMurray and I were good mates from the time of his apprenticeship at Rosehill, and we’ve stayed in touch,” said Allan. “Mick asked me for some help in finding a stable position for his grandson whose family had moved to Coffs Harbour in 2017 after a decade in Cairns. It was a case of being in the right spot at the right time. We were able to place him with my good friend Jim Jarvis who lived on a farm at Coramba near Coffs Harbour but stabled his horses at the racecourse. Naturally the young bloke had to start from scratch, but he was keen from the start and quickly grew to like the horses.”
Allan Denham, himself a champion Sydney apprentice in the 1970s, helped to get Jace started in Coffs Harbour - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
When Jace’s enthusiasm was still intact a year later, Mick contacted his old friend former jockey Terry Duckett who was working for young trainer Adam Campton on the Gold Coast. Again, things fell immediately into place and Campton was able to indenture the Coffs Harbour youngster. “We started him off on the little 800m sand track near the racecourse,” recalled Adam. “He’d trot and canter around all morning on our quietest horses, gaining in confidence and discovering his balance. When he wasn’t in the saddle he was working in the stable, and it was obvious from the outset Jace had a strong work ethic. He rode in countless jump -outs before graduating to the barrier trials. I’m not sure how many barrier trials but it must have been close to fifty. He’d been well drilled by the time he went to the races.”
For the past nine months Jace has had invaluable tuition from former champion South African jockey Robbie Fradd who was forced out of the saddle with a heart condition at the end of 2022. Fradd rode with distinction in South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore before settling in Brisbane at age fifty in 2014. He enjoyed great support from local trainers for the last nine years of his decorated career winning multiple stakes races including the 2020 Stradbroke on Tyzone. In his current role as jockey mentor for Racing Queensland the former ace rider has contributed to the progress of talented young riders like Angela Jones, Kyle Wilson-Taylor, Emily Lang and Marnu Potgieter.
“Adam Campton asked me to tutor his new apprentice soon after he entered the stable,” said Robbie. “Adam arranged for a mechanical horse to be installed and Jace has spent almost as many hours on the machine as he has on racehorses. He’s a level headed boy with a natural gift for riding thoroughbreds. Although fairly tall at around 170 cm he’s able to get low in the saddle, and has already learned to shift the whip from one hand to the other in a flash. I’m very pleased with his development. Early days yet but he’s heading in the right direction.”
Jace has the luxury of actually living with Adam Campton and his partner Tayla Whalley, a veritable home away from home. With fifty horses in work Adam is well placed to support his apprentice, while opportunities are guaranteed from other trainers seeking the advantage of a claim. Jace’s 4kg claim evaporated after five winners. He’ll be down to 2KG in the country after another nine trips to the winner’s circle. Adam is keen to follow the tried and tested formula of using up the young rider’s country claim completely before allowing him to graduate to the provincial circuit. Like most kids Jace is chomping at the bit, but fully understands the long term benefits.
Adam Campton and Tayla Whalley have given Jace a home away from home.
His workplace support is exceeded only by the backing of a proud family. It goes without saying that grandfather Mick is hoping the youngster will do all the things he’d dreamed about before increasing weight halted his riding career. At home in Coffs Harbour Troy and Rochelle McMurray spend a lot of time in front of the Sky Racing service. Brothers Chael and Payton are not exactly hooked on horse racing but recognise the obvious talents of their older brother. Jace McMurray has emerged in an era when successful participants are gaining rewards their predecessors couldn’t have imagined. He’s in the right place at the right time.
Jace is about to weigh in after his Laidley Cup win - courtesy Trackside Photography.
(Banner image - Jace led all the way to win on the Campton trained Hidden Melody at Grafton 16/05/2024 - courtesy Trackside Photography.)