Cejay Graham catching the eye of Queensland trainers

By Jordan Gerrans

With more chances north of the border presenting themselves, talented apprentice hoop Cejay Graham would be open to a permanent move to the Sunshine State if the right opportunity arises.

The 23-year-old has become a more regular face in Queensland in recent weeks and will take four engagements on Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Farm.

The Port Macquarie-based jockey will also ride on the feature Queensland Jewel Raceday this coming Saturday.

Previously riding out of Sydney, Graham featured at Doomben and Ipswich last month and while it is a fair drive from Port Macquarie, they have been experiences the smiling hoop has enjoyed.

Coffs Harbour trainer Graham Payne has supported Graham in recent Queensland visits and that will again be the case on Wednesday, taking three bookings for his yard.

“My motto since being back is that I am just going to go wherever the rides arise and if an opportunity arises, I would definitely be willing to think about it,” Graham said when asked about her future plans to ride in Queensland more often.

“If the right opportunity came up, Sydney or Brisbane way, I certainly would consider it.

“No one knows you are willing to travel to places like Brisbane unless you go up there, it has been good.

“It is actually not that far a drive from where I am on a Wednesday or Saturday if I happen to get going up there.

“I would not be willing to move unless it was a good opportunity but we will see what happens – hopefully I can keep riding well and get as many opportunities as possible.”

During her apprenticeship, Graham has split her time between the Sydney metropolitan ranks as well as provincial racing near Port Macquarie.

She also missed a large portion of 2021 after suffering compression fractures to vertebrae in her neck.

Back fit and firing, Graham – who  still claims three kilograms at a metro level in Brisbane – has drawn interest from Queensland barns, including that of Tony and Maddysen Sears on on the Darling Downs.

Following her two northern trips last month, the Sears’ contacted her out of the blue to ride Raging Pole in the Colts, Geldings and Entires Benchmark 72 Handicap on Saturday.

“Usually I would not go up there on a Saturday but we did not have much around here so I thought I would come up after being offered the ride,” Graham said.

“Maybe if I had not gone up to Brisbane a few weeks ago and ridden Graham’s ones then they would not have known who I was. Hopefully this will lead to more opportunities.”

The daughter of veteran hoop Peter Graham, Cejay made her presence felt at a metro level in Sydney – collecting 11 winners - in recent years prior to her fall and relocating back home to Port Macquarie.

“Everything was going quite well but near the end the opportunities sort of dried up,” she said.

“It was hard in carnival time and I opted to move home.

“When I did move back home I was actually getting more rides in Sydney based out of Port Macquarie but then I had my fall and I just have not been able to pick back up again. “

With an eye to riding her first ever Queensland winner, Graham has three rides for Payne on Wednesday at Eagle Farm as well as one for respected Deagon trainer Pat Duff – who has long been a supporter of female apprentices.

With the National Apprentice Race Series stopping off at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, Graham thinks Fudging for Payne will be competitive in the Class 3 Plate over 1200 metres for apprentices.

She rode the Epaulette gelding in his first start for Payne at Ipswich last month – after previously being trained by Jerome Hunter – and the apprentice hoop is hopeful of improvement.

“It was quite disappointing to tell the truth, his form was good from Melbourne before that run,” she said.

“Graham is probably just learning him out first-up and he has found the knack of him before this run.

“He had every chance that day at Ipswich but when I let him off the bridle he just did not find – maybe he did not handle the tight track there at Ipswich.

“Getting back to Eagle Farm might just do him the world of good being on the bigger surface.

“It can be hard for them coming from Melbourne and going straight on to a tight track.

“He is a lovely type; a lovely looking horse and Graham usually has a lot of luck when he does get horses in Brisbane.

“More or less he usually gets success straight away with them so hopefully he will improve from the first run to this one.”

Stablemate Baileys will contest the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400 metres after finishing just over five lengths behind the winner in a Highway race at Rosehill last start.

“She was disappointing in the Highway but I know she goes a lot better than that,” Graham said.

“They checked her bloods after the run and it was not quite right so they think they have got the horse right now.

“If he has got the horse right, he will be trying hard and will run well.”

Graham won on the third of her Payne runners – Imprinted – two starts back on her home track.

New South Wales is not competing in the NARS series, with Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania vying for points on Wednesday afternoon.