Juliet Partridge strapping to success

By Jordan Gerrans

Queenslander Juliet Partridge cut her teeth strapping horses around Brisbane and she was over the moon to return to home soil as a rider for the first time on Saturday.

The 27-year-old was a long-time trackwork rider and travelling foreman for the Chris and Corey Munce stable at Eagle Farm.

She travelled eventual Group 1 champion Palaisipan away for her interstate assignments before being on strapping duties when the mare famously claimed the Tatt’s Tiara back in the winter of 2023. 

The result was a breakthrough elite-level triumph for hoop Kyle Wilson-Taylor and Partridge was in every post-race image celebrating the result for the stable.

Partridge is now on her own riding journey after debuting in New South Wales late last month.

She headed back to her home state for the first time on Saturday where she partnered Smackeroony into third place for Ipswich conditioner Beau Gorman at Dalby.

It was a special moment for the young apprentice.

“It was fabulous because I saw so many faces that were excited to see me riding,” Partridge said.

“Beau Gorman heard that I was keen to come up to ride to get more experience and he rang me straight away and offered me the ride.

“And, then I got there and I saw lots of old faces and they were happy to see me riding. That included Darren Bell and a few other trainers.

“People were happy to see that I was kind of chasing my dreams.”

As well as being the travelling foreman for Palaisipan, Partridge also worked closely with horses such as Stampe, among others, for their interstate trips.

Looking back on her time in Queensland, Partridge admits her weight was not at the level required to become an apprentice in those days, despite always dreaming of becoming a jockey.

But, a move away to the leading camp of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott shifted that as she knuckled down and spent more time at the gym as well as her trackwork riding.

She has her riding weight listed at 54kg.

She has eventually lobbed with the Melanie O'Gorman yard at Tamworth in regional New South Wales.

Partridge grew up in Brisbane and attended Redlands College.

She rode trackwork for Tina Cotsiopoulos before spending more than five years with the Munce stable at Eagle Farm.

The apprentice believes her time under the guidance of former champion rider Chris Munce set her up to succeed in the industry.

“He was a terrific boss,” she said.

“I spent five-and-a-half years there and they let me do lots of jumps-outs, like I did a lot of my riding there.

“I would have done 20 or more jump-outs at Chris' before I even decided to do an apprenticeship. 

“I learned so much at Chris’, I just galloped a lot of nice horses and did a lot of jump-outs. He just taught me everything, he was a terrific boss. He's just a terrific trainer.

“He's a terrific horseman; he knows how his horses are going and where they should be going. He places them so well, he's terrific. I really rate him as a trainer.

“I always tell him that I'd love to come back one day and he says there will always be a place for me at his stable.”

Partridge had taken six career rides before heading to Dalby on Saturday afternoon.

She is yet to nab a breakthrough winner, but she is hopeful her maiden triumph is not far away.

The trip north to Dalby is likely to be the start of regular northern riding adventures for the keen youngster.

She was pleased with the effort of Smackeroony on Saturday in the 0 – 55 Handicap over 1000 metres.

“I think he just peaked on his run,” she said.

“The horse was five-and-a-half weeks between runs. There's a race for him in three weeks’ time and I think it can win then in the same sort of race.

“Hopefully I can come up and ride the horse again, I have shown my face up here now so I could get a few more rides, as well

“But, I thought it went well. He is a beautiful horse.”