RADECKER TAKES UP ADELAIDE OFFER

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Jockey Mandy Radecker leaves Brisbane at the end of the week to take up an offer to ride for trainer Leon MacDonald in Adelaide.

Radecker has been offered a two month stint with the Macdonald stable. She will fill the gap created by Clare Lindop’s absence. Lindop will be holidaying overseas for the next two months.

Radecker goes with the blessing of her long-time mentor Pat Duff, who was instrumental in guiding Radecker to the Brisbane Metropolitan Apprentice Jockeys Title last season.

Duff expects to welcome Radecker back into the fold at the end of her time down south.

Jockey Mandy Radecker: “Yeah Leon (McDonald) rang me at the start of this week and basically said that Clare (Lindop) is going away and would I like to go down and fill the gap.

“I ummed and I aaahed for a little while, but only because there is just not the number of race meetings down there. I’ll have the whole stable behind me, but there’s just not the number of meetings. I tossed and turned for a few days, but I’ve made the decision to go. A change is as good as a holiday.

“I went down there during the EI and I was apprenticed to Leon – on loan. So that’s where the connection comes in. Well, he basically said to me he’d noticed I wasn’t winning a lot of races up here – I said, yeah, thanks for reminding me. I was still getting the rides, but not riding a lot of winners. Yeah, and he just asked if I would like come down, because he was more than happy with the work that I did when I was there last time.

“Clare goes on Thursday. I plan to go down at the end of the week, so Leon might be left without somebody for two days or so, but he’ll be alright. There is a timeframe to my stay. I’ll be there about two months. That’s when Clare will be away. She is going to America for a couple of weeks and then to England – just for holidays.

“When I was there last time he probably had close to thirty horses, I’d say. It would have been around the twenty-five to thirty mark. I was down there for around two months during EI. I was supposed to be there for three months, but it was basically because Queensland was shut down.

“I did handle the climate because it was in summer ... mind you I did have the electric blanket on in November! So I’m just going to get all of the snow gear ready now.

“I did speak to Pat (Duff) before I made my decision. I didn’t want to leave him in the lurch, because there are a few horses in the stable that I particularly ride in work. I’ve ridden Hard To Catch every day for the last four years.

“Pat is happy for me to go. When I asked him he said, well, from a trainer’s point of view, no I don’t want you to go. He said, but from your career’s side, yeah, you probably should.”

Pat Duff gave his views on these recent developments.

Pat Duff: “I think it is a good decision. I think for any young jockey anything they can do to get ahead. She’s going over there (to Adelaide). At this time of year in Brisbane it’s very difficult for anyone other than the top line jockeys to get top rides in the city, and that will probably happen for the next two-and-a-half months which will be the period she will be away.

“She’s elevating up there to where she should be riding in the city on Saturdays ... keeping her name afloat. I’ve watch her ride over there and I think she handles that way of going well too. She is a right-handed whip rider.
“She was certainly well received over there when she was there as an apprentice. She was under Leon’s (McDonald) control then and I’m quite sure that was a compliment to her that he even offered her the position. I think it is a good decision and I think she will go very well.

“She’s come back to me at the end of the stint with Leon. There’ll always be a room for her. She basically did her entire apprenticeship with me. Apart from that short stint away, Mandy’s been with us the best part of five years snow. She’s been a great person to have around. Not only a good jockey on the course, but a great little lady off the course.”