Winners Flow For In-Form Semmens

Apprentice of the moment Gabrielle Semmens is in a hurry to ride winners.

The Bowen based hoop showed just why she’s becoming the go to apprentice in the north with another winning double at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Semmens guided the brilliant Georgie Holt-trained Time To Prophet to a runaway win in the Happy 70th Sue Byrnes 2YO Open Hcp (1200m) and steered the Steven Royes-trained I Eff Oh to a smart win in the Ladbrokes Maiden (1000m).

The 25-year-old, who is indentured to trainer Tom Button, has now ridden 58 winners in 12 months, 10 of them at Cluden at an astonishing strike rate of 30%.

But the young rider has one drawback, weight.

Naturally tall, she wastes hard to ride at 55kg and is not sure how long she can sustain the weight battle in the long run.

“I want to kick as many goals as I can as quick as I can because my body probably won’t sustain it for a long time, the wasting,’ Semmens said.

“I’ll do my best for as long as I can. Another double today is nice. I’m getting on a bit of a roll.

“I really appreciate the support I’m getting. Great to ride for the Holts today.

“Steve Royes has been a huge supporter, by far my best. He flicks some good rides my way most weeks and has some nice horses coming through.”

Semmens and Royes are forming a highly effective partnership with five winners from 11 runners together at Cluden over the past couple of months.

Originally from the Sunshine Coast, Semmens was from a non-racing family and never intended to become a jockey.

She honed her horse skills in show jumping as a junior and decided  to pursue paid work with horses around racing stables.

“I was a show jumper and grew up around horses and I sort of got to the age where I thought I’d look at making money out of horses instead of spending money on horses,” Semmens said.

“I think I got my first stable hand job when I was 15 and started riding trackwork when I was about 17.

“From there I started my apprenticeship with Tony Haydon. I never planned on being a jockey but riding all the jump outs and doing all the track work, Tony talked me into it.

“I’ve just clicked up 12 months of race riding. I had my first meeting at Emerald and rode a double.

“Tom and I came up here last carnival and never went back. We love Bowen, It’s a beachy, quiet sort of town and central to everything. 

“It’s been good. There’s so many more opportunities.

“I’m definitely learning a lot. It helps having people like Tom in my corner, just constantly working with you. You just don’t stop.”

Semmens was delighted with her latest double but suffered a setback when she was suspended for six days on a careless riding charge on I Eff Oh.

Meanwhile,  the weather played a part in Atherton trainer Sharlee Hoffman’s return to the Cluden winners’ circle with former NSW galloper Crystal Chief.

The ex-Brett Cavanough-trained six-year-old made a winning northern debut with a strong finishing win in the Northern Energy Group BM70 Hcp (1000m) for long-time owner Bob Lockhart.

“We were in a spot of bother. He should have raced a couple of weeks ago but the weather up there has been so wet.

“I was going to run in Cairns over the 950m but I just thought it might be a bit sharp for him.’

“He’s such a long striding horse I thought Townsville would just suit him better.

“He’ll only come on from that.

“It was his first start for me and you want to see how they go with fitness and all that.

“But he’s really surprised me and afterwards wouldn’t blow a match out.

“It feels like forever since I’ve been down here.

“I went overseas in January to America for a holiday and put all of my horses out and I’ve just been slowly bringing them back in.

“I’ve got about 12 in work including some babies and we’re starting to gear up again.”

Pictured: Gabrielle Semmens guides Time To Prophet to a runaway win in the Happy 70th Sue Byrnes 2YO Open Hcp (1200m).

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