SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: SEAN CORMACK'S ARRIVAL GIVES A BOOST TO THE LOCAL RACING SCENE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, March 18, 2018

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.

The fact that Sean Cormack now calls the Sunshine Coast home is not only a major boost to the local riding ranks but it is also to the benefit of Queensland racing in general.

The Group 1 winning jockey, who brings a wealth of international experience to his game, has carefully measured his return to race riding after a long absence prompted by a medical issue but his double at Doomben on Wednesday showed that he is close to firing on all cylinders and the man himself could not be happier with his progress ... and the way he has been received by the Australian racing community.

“It’s been a series of steps,” explained Cormack. “When I came back to Australia (Cormack had ridden for the late Bruce McLachlan on a previous visit) I had to sort out medical issues before I could get my license back.”

“I had to sort that out first and Racing Queensland and the guys from the Australian Jockeys Association, Des O’Keeffe and Kevin Ring, were absolutely phenomenal. They just backed me up, helped me and guided me in the right direction.

“I just have to say I have been very humbled with the help I’ve received. The assistance, the generosity and support has been amazing.

“I’ve got a very good friend John Johnston, who is a trainer at the Sunshine Coast, and he is an unbelievable man. He was the first one to put me on a horse just to help me get the confidence and fitness back ... because after a significant break it is like starting from scratch again and I didn’t realise how long and hard a path it would be.

“John was just superb. He put me on horses he knew wouldn’t give me a hard time. It was a big thing for me though, just to get going at track-work. I felt like an apprentice all over again. John introduced me to Stuart Kendrick and he has given me great support. When I was here before I had a relationship with Rob Heathcote ... who gave me my two winners on Wednesday ... so I am very fortunate the way things have unfolded.

“If I look back now I am just a very lucky man to be in the position that I am professionally and, on a personal level, my family absolutely loved the Sunshine Coast when we were here previously. It was just circumstantial that we had to leave and return to South Africa.

“So, in more ways than one ... it is just great to be back!

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