CAMARADERIE AT ITS BEST

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 4, 2024

When Cejay Graham drove Kintyre to victory to land her most significant victory yet in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm on Saturday, it opened the floodgates to a constant flow of congratulatory messages for the young rider which were still being received by Graham long after Kintyre had passed the post.

From bringing Kintyre back into the winner’s enclosure ... to after her dismount ... through the few steps to do the Sky Channel interview ... it just didn’t stop ... with her achievement also lighting up social media as the reaction of racing participants and enthusiasts alike underlined just how popular a winner Graham was.
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One particularly eye-catching moment came when Graham stepped off the scale after weighing in and fellow jockey Nikita Berriman was waiting, right in front of her.

Their hug was as heartfelt as Graham’s tears were joyous ... and it wasn’t rushed.

This wasn’t a passing ‘well done,’ but a genuine display of a rider showing that she could not have been more pleased with the success of her colleague.

In fact, with they turned away from the hug, you would have struggled to make a call on whose smile was the bigger one ... that of Graham or Beriman.

It was camaraderie at its best.
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Beriman was happy to put into words why she was so happy for Graham.

“She works so hard. She just loves racing,” said Beriman.

“I just said to her, I’m so proud of you. She deserves it so much, so good on her.

“She absolutely is one of the most disciplined jockeys around. She turns up every morning. She works hard. She does her form.

“She is super critical of herself ... probably more than she has to be ... but that is what makes her a good jockey. Good jockeys want to pick out their faults, or at least pick out things that you think you can improve upon.

“By riding that winner today ... she wasn’t having the best of days earlier ... and then she comes out and rides a Group 2 winner.

“It was amazing.”
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For the record, it wasn’t only earlier in the day when things weren’t going as well as they could for Graham.

In the days leading up to Guineas Day, Graham was extremely unwell and literally struggling to get off the floor.

“I never want to miss work,” said Graham. “I just don’t want to let anybody down. I hate just the thought of that ... but, at one stage, I really wasn’t well.

“I did end up going to the Kilcoy meeting on Friday and, thankfully also made it through to the Saturday meeting ... and then this happens.

“I’m still coming to grips with it all.”

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