Hannah Phillips' global opportunity

By Jordan Gerrans

From the non-TAB circuit in country Queensland to riding at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club – it has been a whirlwind few weeks for jockey Hannah Phillips. 

The 34-year-old rider has relocated to Dubai for the local racing season which has only just commenced for the 2025-26 campaign. 

The long-time Sunshine State jockey had her maiden ride in the area late last week when she partnered with galloper Chef De Partie for trainer Mohammad Mardood at the Abu Dhabi track. 

Chef De Partie finished back in the field, but Phillips feels it was a perfect kick-off point for the galloper's preparation. 

Earlier this month, Phillips was competing on the country circuit at tracks such as Eidsvold and Gayndah. 

While Phillips has ridden at a city and provincial level earlier in her career, she has largely piled her trade at non-TAB venues in recent times. 

So, when a career opportunity such as riding at tracks like Meydan in Dubai was offered up, she grabbed it with both hands. 

Phillips’ mother lives in Dubai for work purposes and when the jockey was out injured last year, she travelled to the United Arab Emirates.

“I thought I would do some travel while I was out of action, so I came over here to see her,” Phillips recalls.

“I just popped over to Meydan and met a few people and they have got me back this year.

“I just put myself out there when I was on holidays, sometimes you just have to have an adventure and see where it leads you.

“It is an opportunity that I couldn’t let go.

“I had to take the chance to ride internationally. It is a great opportunity.”

In Phillips’ first ride at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club last week, the race was won by a galloper that is prepared by former Gold Coast-based conditioner Michael Costa who has relocated to the region in recent years. 

Costa has engaged fellow Queensland jockey James Orman – who is now based in Hong Kong - to ride for his team in Dubai on a couple of occasions. 

Phillips will be the stable jockey for trainer Mardood for the upcoming season with his yard backed by owners Abdulla Mardood and Salman Ghaith. 

“From all reports, owners here don’t want to put you on until you have ridden a winner, which makes it hard to get on a horse and ride a winner,” she said with a laugh.

“But, I have all the rides for Mohammad Mardood and they have a few more horses coming in from overseas soon as the season goes on.

“They have got four horses now, with more to come, and some of the other trainers have 150.”

Previously based in the South Burnett region of the Sunshine State, Phillips is hopeful that Chef De Partie is her ticket to more opportunities in her new venture.

Chef De Partie is likely to be back at the races on the 8^th of November at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club once again. 

“He is a middle-distance horse,” she said.

“He started over 1200 metres the other day and because it is a racing season here, these horses are not race fit and are just starting out.

“The race was too short for him and he started from a wide gate.

“But, he has to start the season somewhere and he will hopefully go to a 1400 metre race or a mile next time and that will be a lot more suited to him.”

The Emirates Racing Authority racing season is conducted at five venues – Meydan (Dubai Racing Club), Jebel Ali (Jebel Ali Racecourse), Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club), Sharjah (Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club) and Al Ain (Al Ain Racecourse).

Phillips is hopeful of next being in the saddle at Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Before heading overseas, she collected a winning double at Aramac in late August which brought her career win tally to 200 after debuting a touch over a decade ago.

Back in 2019, Phillips was presented with the inaugural Student Of The Year award at Racing Queensland’s Thoroughbred Awards function.