TOUGHING IT OUT ... DOING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 28, 2022

It is a tough gig being a jockey.

Apart from the obvious demands on a jockey’s lifestyle … the fitness requirements, burdened as it usually is by dietary restrictions and of course the dangers inherent in being asked to guide and control a 500kg racehorse at speed when racing at close quarters with other runners … there is also the simple human trait that affects all of us in one way or another.

Confidence.

Confidence is one of a jockey’s prime weapons … but, like you and me, it is not something that can be forced or faked. You either genuinely have it or you don’t, and it can legitimately come and go in waves depending on the adverse or favourable circumstances that apply at the time.

And so it is that, to be successful, or even just to stay in the game, a jockey has to have mental toughness because they are always being tested on that level to some degree.

Mark Du Plessis has seen it all and come through on the other side many times.

When the Winter Carnival came to town in Brisbane, Du Plessis knew that the momentum he had gained in resolute fashion since returning from a month’s break from riding was about to be cut off at the knees.

The better rides at any Winter Carnival invariable go the top riders securely linked to the top trainers, many of whom arrive from the southern states to, again invariably, plunder the Queensland racing riches.

Some of those jockeys left behind run for cover and escape to the provincials. Others tough in out on centre stage, knowing that they probably will only be playing a bit part … at best sneaking into soem prize-money, at worst only making up the numbers.

Every individual makes their own call … and that is the right one for them.

Mark Du Plessis is one who stayed to face the firewall.

His particular strength was choosing to compete against the best knowing exactly what he was up against and how the odds were stacked against him landed a major result, but being prepared to soak that up and stay in the big game in the hope that he might be caught, even in a glimpsing moment, by the passing spotlight which would serve to remind trainers that he was not going away.

An admirable and stoic attitude.

In the two carnival meetings held in Brisbane in May (May 14 and May 28 – May 21 was abandoned), Du Plessis rode in two Group 2 races and in four Group 3 races.

In the Group 2’s he partnered Menari Magic in the Champagne Classic and Allude in the Sires Produce. These two runners started at $61 and $71 respectively.

In the Group 3’s Du Plessis was aboard Honorable Spirit in the Chairman’s Handicap, Anotonio Giovanni in the Rough Habit, Mystic Aroma in the Fred Best and Stardome in the Premier’s Cup. These four runners started at $41, $26, $151 and $14 respectively.

All of the horses mentioned above ran unplaced as the betting indicated they would but, for what it was worth, Du Plessis was in the jockey’s room and was also mixing with the whole gamut of owners and trainers … reminding everybody … even if at times it was only subliminally … that he was right there taking on the fight as best he could and making sure he was still part of the conversation.

While the results on the track … in other races as well and not just the Group races ... were pretty ordinary over this period of time, by his mere presence Du Plessis was making sure he was scoring every point he could against considerable odds.

That is a show of mental toughness right there.

You can see why he has got as far as he has in his career.

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