Peta Edwards Scores Homecoming Win

Much travelled jockey Peta Edwards sealed the perfect home coming when she landed a winner at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Edwards was elated after booting home the Steve Royes-trained Pontius in Tom Hedley’s colours in her first ride in the north since returning from 16 years of plying her trade across Western Australia.

The former North Queensland apprentice only made the big shift back five weeks ago.

“It was a really good feeling. And you’d have to be happy with that. I was so nervous this morning and I don’t know why,” Edwards said.

“Today was a bit special because when I was younger here growing up as an apprentice I used to watch the big H going around but never ever got an opportunity to wear them.

“Since I came back I’ve linked up with Roysie and been riding work and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to ride this little horse.

“He’s been my favourite. He’s very raw and green and highly quirky.  Roysie said I’d rather have someone on him race day who knows him  so he gave me the ride and he got the job done.”

Edwards now 41, rode with success as an apprentice based in Townsville with trainer Malcolm Reynolds before making the decision to move to Perth just months after becoming a mum to her son Tate.

She completed her apprenticeship with Fred Kersley and after taking a break for four years to focus on her son, built a reputation as a leading country rider in WA.

Edwards was originally based in Perth but later with her ex-partner and trainer Barry Newnham in Geraldton.

“I was fortunate enough to ride some very good horses over there. I rode King Blitz who won three straight in town for me. I also won the Diggers Cup (Ascot) on him and I was first indigenous female to win it.

“I met up with a couple of really good trainers who supported me and I ended up the leading WA country rider for two years straight.

“It was great experience. I won a lot of cups. Over here I could not win a cup. But I was determined to change that in WA – like I watched videos of every staying race.

“I was fortunate to meet up with Bobby Bell and Speeding Reef and he kicked it all off. Then I went on a rampage winning all of the country cups including the Broome Cup.

“People might think the distances over here are huge but in WA for a working jockey it’s another level.

“I used to go everywhere. I think one year my accountant told me I racked up $34,000 in flights.

“It’s good money but it’s the distances that kill you.

“Some weeks I was riding in Esperance, then Geraldton one day, Albany the next and then somewhere else on the weekend.

“You’d be travelling all of the time and you had to make sacrifices. In all of the time I was there I only came back here once.

“You’re always locked in for the seasons and you can’t get away.”

But family ties and home sickness for the north finally led to her decision to return to Townsville to spend time with sister Ash and step dad Philip Alley a well know former trainer.

With a winner so soon under her belt Edwards is keen to make the shift home work.

And her 16-year-old son Tate is keen to join the northern riding ranks too.

“He’s ready to start his apprenticeship. Royesie and Steve Messingham have both offered him a position,” Edwards said.

“Michael Grantham really wants him back in WA so we’ll just see how he goes. It’ll be good for him to start here though.”