Over the years trainer Robert Heathcote has never been shy to give riders new to Brisbane … seniors or apprentices … an opportunity to gain some early traction with his stable in their new surroundings.
Tasmanian apprentice Chloe Wells is the latest beneficiary of Heathcote’s welcoming approach and she will have her first rides at Doomben today to kick off an initial three-month loan period in the Sunshine State.
Wells already has a win at Doomben in the pink and black Heathcote stable silks to her credit.
That win came in the National Apprentice Race Series aboard the Divine Prophet mare Teesandcees Apply in mid-April and the jubilant scenes at the winners’ enclosure following the victory aptly summed up the high level of satisfaction for all involved at the result that had been achieved.
Heathcote was suitably enough impressed with the both the ride and Well’s attitude to float the possibility of the young rider coming to Brisbane to ride for his stable in the future and he left that offer with her.
That win ultimately proved to be the catalyst for change for Wells who got back to Heathcote recently to ask if his offer was still on the table.
It was. She accepted … and now she is in Brisbane about to undertake that three-month stint under Heathcote’s guidance in what is a highly competitive jockey’s room.
The experience alone should be worth its weight in gold in terms of helping Well’s to advance both her riding expertise and her all-around mental prowess, two factors which are critical to any rider aiming to make it to the top of their profession.
For example, today Wells will share the Ladies Jockey Room with, amongst others, Angela Jones and Emily Lang who have been fighting out an historic, cut-and-thrust Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership battle this season. (One of them will be crowned the first female winner of this Premiership).
The amount of insight Wells can learn from just being around the likes of Jones and Lang should, in itself, prove invaluable.
All of this is a step-by-step process though and Wells has already taken a big step by making the move to Brisbane and being prepared to challenge herself outside of her comfort zone.
The current season has been completed in Tasmania where Wells finished fourth in the Tasmania Jockey Premiership with 43 winners at a winning strike-rate of 12.40 percent.
