Queensland has been a hot bed of emerging riding talent in recent seasons with the likes of Angela Jones and Cejay Graham making merry in the Sunshine State as they climbed the ladder of success to be ready and able to mix it with the top tier of riding talent in the state.
These young riders are obviously not just parachuted into the metropolitan scene. They have to earn their stripes to get there and, mostly, that means doing a lot of hard yards early on … far, far away from any spotlight or sniff of glamour and glory.
That’s where the next Jones or Graham will first be identified … but the climb will still be a long and steep one from there during which time grit and determination and a solid work ethic will trump talent in the rider’s quest to ‘make it.’
As tough a gig as it is, invariably, if an apprentice maintains and an all-around impressive work ethic and shows a willingness to learn their trade and develop their talent … rewards will follow, as was the case with promising apprentice Nikki Olzard at Longreach where the young rider excelled, bringing home four winners on the day, including three back-to-back winners over the seven race card.
This, on the back of a double Olzard rode at Dalby early in March.
Olzard, who is still a little over a month shy of completing her first twelve months of race riding, started her career in Rockhampton under the sure guidance of former top jockey, now trainer, Adrian Coombe, who Olzard credits with playing a major part in her progress by passing on his knowledge of trackwork riding, race riding and also understanding the different layouts and nuances of different racetracks.
Coombe provided Olzard with an invaluable part of her early riding education.
Olzard has since moved on the be apprentice to the Jamie Bayliss stable at the Sunshine Coast where she has also just started taking advantage of the mentoring program established by the multiple Group 1 winning jockey Damian Browne.
While it is still very early days in Olzard’s career and there is no pressure to rush things, both Bayliss and Browne believe she is on the right path and will have every chance of succeeding in her chosen profession if she maintains the focus she has now.
“She’s going to be a very good rider, and everybody will know her name when she’s riding in the provincials … that’s for sure,” predicted Bayliss, speaking on Bush Beat.
“I think Nikki seems to have a bit of fire in her which is sometimes a good thing so they can stand up for themselves out there,” said Browne.
“She looks good on a horse. Obviously there are a couple of little things that can be polished up, but I think it is important that she can get her provincial license as quick as possible so she can start riding alongside the likes of Jimmy Orman, Jim Byrne and Michael Cahill.
“That would help her learn more productively.
“She has got the ability to be riding at provincial level and I’d like to see her being able to take that step now.”
