Rachel shreds to memorable Cooktown win

By Jordan Gerrans

After only recently taking out her dual licence, Rachel Shred has declared preparing his first winner as a trainer was so much more meaningful to do so in her father’s racing colours. 

The 27-year-old Shred has been a consistent rider on the North Queensland circuit in recent years after coming out of her time as an apprentice. 

She has recently started a new journey in her racing career by taking out a dual licence as a trainer and a jockey.

With her couple of gallopers in work, the Atherton-based Shred travelled north to Cooktown on Saturday and enjoyed her best day since out taking her own training ticket.

She grabbed her maiden victory aboard Mohawk Warrior and in the race prior, stablemate Sweet Candy ran second. 

“Life couldn’t get any better at the moment,” Shred said when describing her emotions from the day at Cooktown.

After taking seven starters to the races before Saturday and only earning one top-three finish, Shred said she was stoked to see Sweet Candy run in the money before the stablemate blew her away and went one better. 

Sweet Candy and Mohawk Warrior race in the same orange, light blue chevrons, diamonds sleeves and cap colours of Shred’s father Chris Shred. 

Chris is the major owner in both gallopers with Shred’s mother Kris is also in Mohawk Warrior.

The jockey and trainer says the backing of her parents has been key in her ability to take out the dual licence and purchase new horses. 

The Shred family raced a galloper named Tunero through 2020 and 2021 who Rachel rode on 13 occasions in races.

Tunero planted the idea in Chris’ mind about his daughter taking on more horses. 

“I love the horses so much and my parents were so supportive of my riding,” she said.

“My Dad bought a horse a few years ago named Tunero, who ran second in a Townsville Cup, and from there, he enjoyed it so much so he wanted to stick to it.

“Dad was paying other people to train the horse – while I was riding them – so we spoke about me taking out the dual licence, so I did.

“I enjoyed it and my parents were very supportive. I love it and I wouldn’t change it at all.”

And, to win her first race in her father’s racing colours, it was a profound moment for the Shred clan. 

“It makes such a big difference and it is so much more meaningful,” she said.

“It is a really good feeling. It sort of felt like winning a big race, I had goosebumps.

“It means so much to me when you put the hard work in.”

Mohawk Warrior won the Maiden Plate over 1290 metres at Cooktown on Saturday by almost half-a-length while Sweet Candy was not beaten by far in the Ratings Band 0 – 50 Handicap over the same trip.

After having her maiden ride in a race back in 2017, Shred says that taking out her dual licence has been an incredible learning experience and she has picked so much knowledge about the caper that she hadn’t previously come across as a hoop.

Shred is currently training out of Tolga but is in the process of building stables at her own 40-acre property where she is hopeful of taking on pre-trainers and spelling horses from other stables.

The Far North Queensland-based hoop welcomed baby Dalton into the world on October 27 of last year.

Dalton and the rest of her family couldn’t be at the Cooktown track on Saturday for Shred’s special winning occasion.

Despite being keen to run over a further trip, Mohawk Warrior is likely to be kept fresh and targeted towards a Class B event over 1200 metres.

The son of Dundeel started his racing career in Victoria with the late Michael Moroney before eventually shifting north.

Shred believes the four-year-old gelding is maturing and settling more with every start he has. 

“He was probably rushed a little bit in his first few starts for me as he is bred to stay,” Shred said.

“There is not many long distance races up here in the north, especially maidens.

“We thought about retiring him but I didn’t want to because I get along with him so good.

“But, we took all the gear off him and started from scratch before taking him trail riding, jumping and swimming.

“Following that, he became a lot easier to handle and more settled.

“Him settling and me knowing him so well now, it became better and better. He is just happy now, which has really helped.”