THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: SARAH EILBECK, ONE VERY PROUD PREMIERSHIP WINNER

By Graham Potter | Sunday, August 7, 2016

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

She came for the sunshine and ended up winning a premiership.

Sarah Eilbeck, who took out the Sunshine Coast Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership for the 2015/16 season, arrived in Australia in 2011 with no great pretentions about race riding. While that was something she always wanted to do, ‘the better weather’ was the prime motivation for her move from England which initially took her to the Paul Perry stable in New South Wales.

“My husband and I originally only got a one year visa but we just loved it that much we extended our visa,” Eilbeck said. “In July 2012 we came up to the Sunshine Coast for regional work as part of visa requirements. People down south said, you won’t come back. We said we will ... but, no, that didn’t happen.

“As much as we loved it down there, we loved it more up here. It took a while to get going with track-work but I worked hard and things picked up. That was an another important period of grounding for me ... to add to my years of riding work in England ... because people got to know me and my riding capabilities before I even got my jockey’s license.

“My husband had always been telling me I should take out my license. He kept saying you should ... you should ... you should, and I was always saying no, not thinking I was good enough.

"But then my weight came down naturally with the weather and the amount of trackwork I was doing and that helped push me into a decision.

“That my weight came down naturally was good because, as much as I wanted to ride, I didn’t want to do it if I had to waste. I don’t know how Cassie (Schmidt), and Jimmy (Orman) and Luke (Dittman) and others do it. I really don’t.

“So my weight was right. The time was right. I got my license and from there it has just snowballed.

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“I was first apprenticed to Andrew Williamson who helped me a lot. I’m now apprenticed to Stewart McKinnon.

“Stewart is there to help me. He says he will drive me if I’m tired. He goes through replays with me. It is just so good to have that advice and also, in general, the people he is surrounded by ... like Alan and Linda Jones ... are so supportive. It is a great environment to be in.”

“I only started riding in August 2014 so it has just been amazing! I’m an older apprentice ... a late starter ... but, although it’s been delayed, I am giving my career a real go.

“I still just take it a day at a time though. I genuinely never thought I would get this far so to be where I am now is an absolute achievement in my mind. I’m only three winners off going down to a 2kg claim in town now.

“Things have taken me there naturally. As I progressed I just had to take the next step up every time but, once I got going, I always felt ready.

“I was really gunning for this title. I don’t think Jimmy (Orman) even knew he was in contention because he was so busy in town, but I really did want to win it.

“For half of the year I wasn’t getting a claim either so for me to keep getting rides was massive in itself.

“I really want to thank everybody who has supported me, with special thanks to my manager Shannan Williams who is such a great asset to my career.

““I’m just so proud to have won the title on my home track.”

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