Hammersley heads west to kick-start comeback

By Jordan Gerrans

Group 1-winning hoop Paul Hammersley has been off the riding scene for all of 2025 and has selected an unfamiliar location to kick-start his return to the saddle. 

The Gold Coast-based jockey was last at the races in the middle of December last year and through overseas holidays, injury and weight concerns, he has not taken a ride so far in the new year. 

The 41-year-old has tentatively locked in a return date of August 16 at Longreach for his comeback.

The experienced hoop jokes that he has been watching Central West racing on YouTube to prepare himself for the occasion as he has not yet ridden that far away from the coast in his riding career.

Racing has taken Hammersley overseas to ride and to the highest level in town, so a non-TAB meeting at Longreach is an unusual place for him to return.

But, he is aiming to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ with the trip as his girlfriend is travelling around Queensland in a campervan and will be in the Central West area around the same time. 

“I thought this would be a good place to start off at,” Hammersley said.

“They will be heavy weights for me to ride at. 

“I have never gone out that far west to ride before so it might be a bit of an eye-opener for me (laughs).

“It will be a blow out for me getting rid of a few of the cobwebs.”

Hammersley contacted the Longreach Jockey Club about the upcoming trip and local officials are busy working behind the scenes to organise the top hoop some engagements for the meeting. 

“It is a coup for our club to have a rider of Paul’s quality coming out,” Longreach Jockey Club president Andrew Watts said.

“That meeting is headlined by our Newmarket sprint race so it should be a big occasion for the Central West.”

As an apprentice, Hammersley claimed the 2020 Queensland Oaks aboard Mon Mekki for trainer Gerald Ryan to nab his maiden victory at the elite level. 

He has around 20 black-type victories on his resume. 

He has also had a stint riding overseas in Macau, which he believes might just help prepare him for the conditions in the CW. 

During his Macau time, he rode on a sand track which will be similar to the dirt of Longreach. 

Walking around at 63kg, Hammersley now has the Longreach meeting to aim towards and following that, he is keen to return to riding regularly at the Gold Coast. 

 “This is giving me a starting point and something to focus on,” he said.

“There is a goal at the end of the tunnel.

“It gives me a month to get ready, get my weight down and get my fitness back.

“I rode in a few jump-outs on Wednesday of this week and I pulled up relatively well.

“The fitness is on track and I know I just need to focus on the weight for the coming few weeks.”

Hammersley rides work on the Gold Coast for leading local trainer Adam Campton.

He has battled with his weight throughout his career. 

“The Longreach club have been great about spreading the word about me coming out, so it hopefully leads to a few rides and makes the trip worthwhile,” he said.