Apprentice jockey Cejay Graham had a day and a half out in the saddle at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, riding the winners of no less than four races to expand her level of achievement one more time.
With only six months gone, Graham is already clearly the find of the season … not only in terms of her statistical success, but also with regard the way she rides and guides her horses. It is not just that you win, it is how you win … doing things right, making good decisions, working with your horse … that creates confidence, and the impressive professionalism Graham shows in the heat of race action is also clearly evident in the way she conducts herself in general.
A case where hard work comes first, sprinkle in a sure dose of talent, and the rest will follow.
Graham currently leads the Brisbane Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership with thirty-eight wins to Bailey Wheeler’s twenty-nine-and-a-half wins … the next apprentice on the ladder has only five winners … and therein lies a story with more than one twist.
While Graham has remained focussed and sure-footed, unfortunately Wheeler has hit a couple of speedbumps, at times seemingly being his own worst enemy.
Story twist number 1: Currently, Wheeler is out of the game, courtesy of another case of tough love from trainer Annabel Neasham as she tries to impress upon her stable apprentice the importance of discipline and a good work ethic if he wants to get ahead in the tough field of race-riding.
For the second time in a little over three months Neasham has stood Wheeler down from race riding, doubling down on the hard line she has commendably taken on setting the standards for her stable and never flinching at enforcing her rules. The line she has drawn in the sand carries an unambiguous message.
So, all things being equal, Graham will have a couple of weeks of clear air in which to try to increase that Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership lead and, after watching her on Saturday, few would bet against her doing just that.
But, when Wheeler is scheduled to return, there will still be a little over five months of the season left to run and …
Story twist number 2: Currently, Graham is set to complete her apprenticeship on April 25. Should that expiry of her indentures date be enforced, Wheeler would have a three-month clear run to the line to try to do enough to add the Brisbane Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership title to the dual Gold Coast Premierships (Jockeys and Apprentice Jockeys) he won last season.
But …
Story twist number 3: Graham has indicated that she will looking at seeking an extension to her apprentice status until the end of the season, and she might have a reasonable claim to being given that option after missing so much time through injury.
While she has already been given some concession in that regard, she will be going through the fine details and the process with Racing Queensland to see if any further ‘add-on’ options are available to her.
There is a lot more to unfold in this Brisbane Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership title chase.
