A career highlight! Connie got to ride Apache Cat in trackwork during the great sprinter's interstate campaigns.
Great to catch up with a lady who’s more than making up for her late start in racing. Connie dabbled with show horses during the decade in which she worked as Bakery Manager at Woolworths Emu Plains. She later gained a job with a Hawkesbury thoroughbred trainer and her life changed dramatically. Connie talks about her frantically busy lifestyle at Dubbo.
She explains that she and business partner Michelle Jones own most of the horses in the stable.
The trainer says she rides many of her horses in trackwork but is ably assisted by jockey Ken Dunbar.
Connie talks of her commitment to keeping her horses outdoors.
She talks of recent wins at professional race meetings in the west.
Connie explains her move to the picnic circuit and comes up with some interesting statistics. She acknowledges the welcome increase in amateur prize money in recent years.
She talks of the one anomaly confronting picnic racing - a worrying shortage of jockeys.
Connie acknowledges the successful partnership she’s formed with Brazilian born Liandro Ribeiro who’s in huge demand on the picnic circuit. She talks of Liandro’s full time job with Sydney trainer Gary Portelli.
The trainer acknowledges the talents of Ribeiro’s partner, fellow jockey Julia Presits.
Connie talks of her exciting win in last year’s Picnic Championship Final on her home track at Dubbo.
She makes special mention of Sally Faulks who only recently joined the ranks of picnic jockeys. Sally rode her first winner at Tullibigeal in March and made it a double later in the day.
Connie says she enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of picnic racing and talks of one venue where all participants are treated to a sumptuous feast.
She talks of her trusty Mercedes truck and the long hours she spends on the road.
Horse loving Connie looks back on her job at the Hawkesbury Valley stables of David Keegan and her scary introduction to trackwork.
She recalls with affection her association with 8 time Gr 1 winner Apache Cat. Simply by being in the right place at the right time she got to ride him trackwork on his first Sydney campaign. She later accompanied the legendary sprinter to Brisbane.
Connie talks of the $1000 mare who launched her solo training career. That mare was called Lay Down Sally for very good reason.
She says she combined racehorse training with the pre-training of young horses for trainers like Graeme Begg and Gerald Ryan during the Hawkesbury years.
Connie endorses the Inglis Digital On Line Sale which has brought her some surprise results.
She speaks with great affection about an evergreen member of the team who races under the curious name of Billy Bent Ear.
The trainer makes no apology to the western race callers who have to work hard to cope with multiple runners in her spectacular yellow and purple stable colours.
Connie talks of the talented galloper Deel Street and the brilliant apprentice Anna Roper who will resume shortly from injury. Anna rides regularly for the Greig stable.
(Banner image - Connie with the riders of her 6 runners in last year's Picnic Championship Final. Leandro Ribeiro (white and red silks) is the owner rider of the winner Hemsted - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.)
It's unlikely Apache Cat had more admirers than Billy Bent Ear - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Ribeiro wins on Get Up Alby at Bedgerabong 11/02/2023 - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Connie and Leandro Ribeiro are a formidable combination on the NSW picnic circuit - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Sally Faulks ( outside) wins her very first race on Everyone at Tullibigeal defeating Leandro on Benyatta - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Three of Connie's regular riders. From left Breanna Bourke, Sally Faulks and Leandro - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.