Nick Palmer keen for Central West stint

By Jordan Gerrans

Talented apprentice jockey Kelsey Lenton took the Central West by storm through the middle stages of 2024 and fellow youngster Nick Palmer will be aiming to do the same this time around.

Lenton was the Brett Cavanough stable’s main jockey for the Scone-based trainer’s satellite operation out of Barcaldine during the autumn and winter months.

The team lobs with six gallopers again this year and will start their first crop of horses this Sunday at Longreach’s non-TAB meeting.

Following her prolific tenure in the Central West, Lenton has shifted her indenture to top Darling Downs conditioner Matt Kropp.

Teenager Palmer is only in the infancy of his riding career but with a four-kilogram claim, he is likely to be a popular jockey in the bush region.

Palmer – who has a camp drafting and rodeo background – has three winners on his resume after debuting in October of last year.

“Brett told me to go up here and I will learn a bit,” Palmer recalled of his conversation with his master Cavanough.

“He thought I would do it easier and get a bit more confidence, that kind of thing. That was kind of the whole plan for me to learn more.

“It is about learning to ride better and win a few races while getting a bit of confidence.

“I am pretty keen; it is good to get away from everything and come up here for a while.”

At the end of the 2024 Central West season, Lenton finished third on the region’s riding premiership, trailing only Jason Missen and Nikki Olzard. 

The 23-year-old Lenton is putting the finishing touches on her best season yet in the saddle, already posting 35 winners, which is 13 above her previous high mark.

Lenton has a big book of engagements at Toowoomba’s Clifford Park on Saturday before heading to Rockhampton in Central Queensland for four rides for her boss on Tuesday. 

Lenton spent time riding and living in North Queensland in the early stages of her career. 

Scone trainer Cavanough believes Palmer has a bright future.

"Nick came to me to be an apprentice jockey and has been with me a fair while now," Cavanough said.

"He's done his trials and he's had a really good backgrounding, obviously with my two other apprentices there (Braith Nock and Cobi Vitler).

"He's got a camp-drafting background and for his age he is a very good horseman. He's a good boy, he's ready to go."

Vitler has also recently shifted north to the Sunshine State and will ride at Ipswich on Saturday and Caloundra on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Palmer will have his first race rides this Sunday since suffering a collarbone injury in the middle of March.

“I was just really starting to get a hang of my riding before I got hurt,” Palmer said.

“It set me back a bit, but I just need to go again.

“I was doing a couple of things wrong with my riding but coming up here and restarting it all, it will help.”

Palmer will get his first taste of Central West racing at Longreach Jockey Club on Sunday with four rides for his master. 

He will partner Goodfun in the Maiden Plate over 1400 metres, I Shot The Sheriff, the classy The Hanger Cat in the Open Plate and More Than A Star in the last event of the program. 

The Hanger Cat won twice at Longreach last year - with Lenton doing the riding on both occasions - in his impressive CW campaign. 

“I think he will be pretty good to ride,” Palmer said of The Hanger Cat. 

“He is a good horse to ride and good to work. They are all pretty good chances for Sunday.

“More Than A Star might like it better up here than what she has been going down there.

“I think they are all good chances.”

Palmer plans to spend around three months in the Central West and ride throughout the local season.

Cavanough has also had a presence at the Gold Coast in recent weeks, as well, preparing winners at Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Eagle Farm through April.