Hoop Paige Fergusson-Smith finds her home on the GC

By Jordan Gerrans

From New Zealand via Melbourne, apprentice hoop Paige Fergusson-Smith believes she has found her perfect home on the Gold Coast alongside trainer Paul Shailer and her fiancé Dylan Turner. 

The riding couple of Fergusson-Smith and Turner shifted across the ditch in search of better opportunities in the saddle and the year of 2025 has delivered for the pair so far. 

Turner grabbed one of the biggest wins of his riding tenure earlier this year when he lifted the Townsville Cup. 

While his fiancée has had to bide her time, she is also set for her chance on the big stage as she takes her maiden ride in a race at Warwick on Thursday afternoon. 

The 24-year-old jockey will partner Winchman for her master Shailer in the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1100 metres at Warwick’s Allman Park.

Fergusson-Smith says she would be lost without her support network of fellow Kiwi Shailer and his family on the Gold Coast and jokes that she is now considered one of his children.

“Everyone has put a lot of faith in me, so I just want to give that back and be worth it for them,” Fergusson-Smith said.

“I am very grateful for all the support that I have received from Paul and his stable, I wouldn’t be in this situation I am currently in if it was not for them.

“They took a risk in taking me on.

“Paul has given me every opportunity possible to put me where I am, I know I am very lucky.

“I have had so much support, so they are like my family away from my family.”

While the 31-year-old Turner has been there for every step of his fiancée's journey, he has also credited her for his resurgence in the saddle.

Turner has received more city opportunities in recent times as well as scoring the feature Townsville Cup aboard Quothquan for Darling Downs conditioner John Dann. 

Turner recently revealed he had given up drinking alcohol after admitting he had long battled with it for some time. 

"My partner understood it and she was on my side, but I did feel bad for that first month she didn't get taken out for dinner just because I didn't want to have the urge to have a drink,” Turner said recently in regards to Fergusson-Smith’s support. 

"She's a massive part of my success and you could probably say there were times when I probably wouldn't have been alive without her in my corner.”

The move to the Sunshine State has been a fruitful one for both of the jockeys.

Turner has seven winners to his name this season and is striking at above 20%.

“We wanted to make the move to better our careers in racing,” Fergusson-Smith said.

“We knew the industry was better over here with more opportunities.

“I knew there would be more opportunities for me in Queensland compared to Melbourne if I got my weight down, which I have anyway now.

“It is hard to get in down there in Victoria.”

In her pursuit of becoming an apprentice rider, Fergusson-Smith rode trackwork and in trials for Greg Eurell and Julius Sandhu, among others, in Victoria for around 18 months.

She was worried weight would be a concern to break into the Victorian apprentice program but since her relocation north, she has got it down to around 53kg comfortably.

Fergusson-Smith praises her master for her weight being at a consistent level after he helped find her a local personal trainer on the Gold Coast. 

"She is a hard worker and a talented rider that deserves all the success about to come her way," Shailer said. 

"She has lots of talent, is a naturally gifted rider, hardworking and is disciplined.

"She has built up a resilient attitude through the passing of both her brother and mother in recent years.”

The Shailer-prepared Winchman looms as a perfect kick-off point for the up-and-coming rider's career after she partnered him in two winning trials in June and July. 
 
 The five-year-old son of Hellbent has since won a city maiden and been placed on two more occasions this time in.

“I have ridden him his whole prep this time in,” Fergusson-Smith said.

“I know him quite well from his two trials. Paul knew he was race day fit and he was going well this prep.

“He went well last prep, as well, he is a very consistent horse.

“Paul just thought it would be the best horse for me to start off with because he knows that he is consistent, he tries and I know him so well.

“It is kind of an ideal situation.”

Fergusson-Smith strapped Isti Star when she won the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic under lights at the Gold Coast in late May.