Summer shine finally comes for Natalea

By Jordan Gerrans

Jockeys riding outside trackwork for trainers that they do not primarily work for is relatively commonplace in the racing industry.

For veteran Central Queensland hoop Natalea Summers, taking the leap of faith to ride trackwork for anyone other than her partner and trainer Darryl Johnston was one of the toughest tasks she has faced in her lengthy career.

Set to turn 49 years of age later this year, Summers is in the midst of a hot run of form after returning from a two-year injury absence, which was headlined by a winning double at Yeppoon on Saturday afternoon. 

The long-time Queensland hoop believes her prolific period in the saddle is all to do with her decision to restart riding trackwork consistently for other trainers in Rockhampton outside of Johnston. 

For the best part of the last six years, Summers has only ridden Johnston’s horses in their exercise at Callaghan Park. 

The significance of the six-year mark dates back to the jockey losing her son in a tragic car crash.

It was July of 2019 when Hamish Summers-Lawrie was involved in a car crash that cost him his life.

Summers refers to her late son as her ‘best friend’.

He was only 19 years of age when the horrific accident occurred.

“I wasn’t ready to ride outside work,” Summers reflects.

“Darryl starts and finishes early because we only have a small team and previously, I could go in early, ride a few horses and get out of there without having to deal with too many people.

“It wasn’t the dealing with people, because I was race riding, but I just wasn’t up to it.

“Not going up to the tie-up stalls, not riding outside work and not getting my face out there, I was out of sight and out mind for these people.

“Now that I am doing it, it has helped my fitness a lot because I have gone from five horses on average a morning to now double that.”

Since Summers returned to race riding in early June, she has collected a winner at Moranbah and also scored one at Thangool before her Yeppoon double. 

While she is still mainly riding for Johnston, who she married earlier this year, the winners have also flowed for Julieann Lancaster and Jason Devine. 

She has been riding trackwork for other conditioners such as Clinton Taylor, John O’Sing, Kerrod Smyth, Patrick Dillon and John Wigginton, among others. 

Despite her recent success on the track, a July does not go by without Summers mourning the anniversary of her beloved son. 

“He is missed by a lot of people,” she said.

“People in racing really knew him because I basically had him as a baby in nappies while I was riding work at Eagle Farm.

“He was well-known in racing as he always tagged along with me to the track as he got older, as well.”

It was at the Mackay Turf Club where Hamish worked as a barrier attendant on race days before his tragic accident.

He also formerly worked in that role for the Rockhampton Jockey Club.

Summers scored aboard Masali Raffa for Lancaster on Saturday in Benchmark 50 grade over 1400 metres as well as on Keyboard for her newly minted husband.

Summers was off the riding scene from November of 2023 until June of this year following a string of injuries, which included ankle, knee and hand concerns. 

Following the 2019-20 season after Hamish’s passing, Summers has only ridden a double figure number of winners in one campaign due to ongoing injury setbacks. 

She is hopeful the ball is finally rolling in the right direction now.  

“It was always the plan to get back riding because I love it,” she said.

“I enjoy every part about riding – I am an adrenaline junkie (laughs).

“I love going out bush and going riding. I just love it. I have been blessed to get back on a horse after some pretty bad injuries.”

Summers took one ride at Callaghan Park on Tuesday afternoon and with Johnston having two gallopers nominated for the Gladstone meeting this Saturday, there is set to be more opportunities for his wife. 

“I haven’t put any pressure on myself this time, I am just going to take what comes,” she said.

“I just want to enjoy it, that is what stage I am at in my mind.

“Mentally it has put me in a good place and I can just go out there, it is working out well.

“I haven’t panicked about getting lots of rides, I have just got my fitness up and gone from there.

“It is paying dividends, being patient and not stressing about it - just doing the riding for the love of it.”