THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AS STEPHANIE LACY CLAIMS THE TITLE

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 27, 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.

“It has always been a goal of mine to win the Sunshine Coast Apprentice Jockey's Premiership.”

For the speaker, locally based jockey Stephanie Lacy, that plan came together in the 2017/18 racing season which ends on July 31.

Lacy continues the story.

“The Sunshine Coast is my home track and we get a lot of good riders here on Sundays so it is pretty good to be the leading apprentice when things are so competitive.

“I missed out on the apprenticeship premiership last season. I was going well but then I had a fall in December 2016 and broke my collar bone. I was out for four months. It took them until I was nearly ready to come back to catch me … and then I was back for a month and had another fall and broke my hand … and that was the end of that premiership challenge. I think I finished third.

“I was still apprenticed to Paul Duncan at the start of this season and then I moved across to John Symons and Sheila Laxon. I still get a lot of support from Paul. I go in there and ride work every morning. I’ve learnt a lot from Paul.

“It’s the same at John and Sheila. It’s not very often you get the opportunity to work with a Melbourne Cup winning trainer (Laxon won the Cup with Ethereal) and, of course, what John did with Bel Esprit, particularly as a two-year-old and then also later on, shows how good a trainer he is … so I know I am very lucky to be involved with their stable.

“Paul Jenkins and Tom Bourke have also both been very big supporters of mine right through, even before I started riding. There are others of course and I can’t thank all of the owners and trainers who have supported me for their constant support the whole way though.

“It is still a tough gig though … but you have to stay focussed whatever setbacks you might have. It’s just a matter of going in (at some ungodly hour, starting at 3.30am), riding work, turning up every morning, being reliable, letting trainers know they can trust you and all the time you have to keep learning and keep improving.

“I’m very happy in both my professional and personal life. Couldn’t be happier. Oh, there is one thing … if I could just have one day off sometime that would be great,” concluded Lacy.

Another challenge awaits with Lacy due to end her apprenticeship in November but for now though, at season end with that premiership safely tucked away, it is a matter of mission accomplished for Lacy and a time for her to take a moment to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done!

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