Liberty Smyth smiling to the winning post
By Jordan Gerrans
Born-and-bred Queenslander Liberty Smyth is on the board in the riding ranks after piloting her maiden winner at Port Macquarie Race Club on Tuesday.
Hailing from Central Queensland, Liberty is indentured to Group 1-winning Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle.
After five rides over the last fortnight, the 28-year-old saluted for the first time on a mount for her boss in the opening event from Port Macquarie.
Maiden galloper Dwayne was well-supported in the market and the daughter of long-time Rockhampton trainer Kerrod Smyth lifted the gelding to victory by more than a length.
Liberty relocated to New South Wales in the middle of last year after initially riding trackwork for trainers Jack Bruce and James Healy at Caloundra.
The apprentice hoop was beaming with pride to ride her first winner.
“It was a thrill to ride my first winner for Nathan, my boss,” Liberty said.
“I'm absolutely just so grateful for JJJ Racing for letting me have the ride.
“They allowed me to trial him a couple of times. I am very grateful to the owners and very grateful for Nathan to put me on.
"He was excellent, Dwayne. We were worried with the wide gate that there might be a little bit too much speed on our inside.
“He pinged the lid, so we went forward and lucky we did because I don't think we would have run Bohemian Art down.
“So, I'm really rapt and just incredibly grateful.”
Liberty was born in Gladstone and relocated to Rockhampton as a youngster where she eventually attended Rockhampton Grammar School.
Born into the industry with her father a trainer in the area, she worked at the Callaghan Park track as a teenager.
“After high school, she went to Europe with an international showjumping team,” Kerrod said.
“She has been around horses since she was three years old and was of course involved with pony club before getting involved with the equestrian side of it.”
Before starting her apprenticeship, Liberty studied at university and worked at a bank.
As she grew up around the game, racing was always going to come calling and she eventually began riding trackwork at the Sunshine Coast and then stepped into the apprentice ranks.
She rode in several South East Queensland trials for top trainers such as Tony Gollan and Stuart Kendrick, among others.
A connection with high-level hoop Ashley Morgan helped Liberty link up with Doyle at Newcastle.
“It's exciting and hopefully there is more to come,” she said of her maiden winner.
“I'm also really grateful for Kris Lees because I ride work for him every morning. He's given me a real go on my trials and in my races, as well.”
Father Kerrod has been in the caper for around four decades and was emotional while watching his daughter ride a winner for the first time on Tuesday.
“I am very proud of her and I had a tear in my eye, if I am being honest,” Kerrod said.
“I know her journey so closely. She wanted to do it so badly.”
The victory came at Liberty’s sixth career race ride after she debuted on the 27th of December last year.
Veteran mentor Kerrod thinks the up-and-coming stable of Doyle at Newcastle is a perfect spot for Liberty to learn her trade.
“Nathan is a good trainer for her to be with,” he said.
“Kris Lees has also given her a lot of opportunities as she rides work for him once she is finished in the morning with Nathan.
“Kris has given her a few rides.
“I dare say after that winner, Nathan will give her more opportunities and so will other trainers.”
Liberty goes in search of her second career triumph ay Coffs Harbour Racing Club on Sunday when she pilots Steel Rain for conditioner Donna Grisedale in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1605 metres.
