Apprentice inspired to ride by her daughter

By Jordan Gerrans

The birth of her daughter Ryleigh was the turning point in Ipswich’s Brea Harrison's tenure in the racing game. 

About a decade ago, Harrison was riding trackwork and working on the ground at racing stables. 

It all changed when young Ryleigh was welcomed into the world seven years ago. 

That was when Harrison shifted her focus and passion for thoroughbreds from being comfortable just riding trackwork to aiming to be out there on race day as a jockey. 

Now 27 years of age, Harrison has recently been approved her licence to ride in races and is targeting her maiden day at the track to be at Nanango early next month. 

While there are several country meetings that Harrison could debut at in the coming weeks, the non-TAB Nanango meeting works best for the Ipswich-based apprentice jockey so she can have her family and friends attend the big occasion. 

“She is my biggest supporter,” Harrison said of her daughter Ryleigh. 

“The bosses I have worked for and the community I have behind me have really rallied for me so it's ok to manage having a daughter and being a jockey.”

Harrison is indentured to Bradley Smith at Ipswich. 

Smith prepares a small team and says his apprentice has been a valuable asset to his stable since she walked through the front door for the first time. 

“She has a terrific work ethic and she has not missed a morning since she has been working for me,” the Ipswich trainer said.

“That is very, very rare to get people like that these days.

“She is very deserving of the opportunity as she has worked very hard for it for a very long time.

“She has had a few bumps in the road, but I think she will do well as she is mature now as she has learnt some hard lessons.”

As well as riding work for her master, Harrison helps the partnership of Brian and Matt Costello and conditioner Brett Sturgess at the Bundamba facility. 

The Sturgess-prepared Stormtrooper is one galloper the emerging hoop has lined up for the Nanango meeting. 

As Harrison is a natural lightweight rider, Smith thinks she will hit the ground running on the country circuit following her debut meeting at Nanango. 

“I think she will do quite well initially because her riding is great,” Smith said.

“She is quite a pretty rider. She has a lovely seat on a horse and horses seem to travel for her.

“She has nice hands and the thing I like about her the most is that she will be able to ride light and still be strong.

“The country style of racing initially will really suit her riding, with the speed racing and they get out and run.

“She sits on nice, stays out of their way and just lets them run.”

Harrison entered the racing industry as a teenager and feels her years of grounding riding trackwork and working in stables have helped prepare her to become an apprentice. 

“I eventually decided to take up the career of being a jockey and to get approved to now ride in races, it was definitely shocking after working so hard towards it,” she said.

“I am still in disbelief that I finally made it.

“I had a lot of people backing me saying that I had the skill for it and I just love the partnership with the horses.

“I thought I may as well give it a good crack and have some fun with it.”

Of his own horses, Smith has Gypsy Tricks entered for Ipswich’s meeting this Sunday in a Benchmark 60 Handicap over the speedy 800 metre journey. 

Gypsy Tricks was Smith's last winner, which came in October of last year.