Country stalwart's dream debut falls just short

By Jordan Gerrans

Within sight of the winning post at Eagle Farm last Saturday afternoon, veteran jockey Scott Sweedman thought his dream occasion was about to rise to an entire new level.

Riding in the big smoke for the first time in his lengthy career after decades on the country and provincial circuit, it was already a red-letter day for Sweedman.

At 49 years of age, it was Sweedman’s maiden ride on a metropolitan track.

It is a very rare occurrence for a rider with almost 200 winners to their name to never have ridden in the city.

Most jockeys get at least one chance as an apprentice or when a bush horse they are connected with gets chucked into the deep end of town racing.

Sweedman hails from Texas in regional Queensland and has had stops at St George and Goondiwindi across his tenure in the game.

Riding Ka Bling for Roma trainer Ben Waldron, heavyweight hoop Sweedman thought his dream was about to become a reality, before he was rolled in the final stages by eventual Battle of the Bush champion Roll Up.

“It was massive,” Sweedman said of the occasion.

“When we got through and got to the front with 50 metres to go, I pinched myself.

“I was a bit starstruck and when we got to the post, I wasn't sure if we were able to hold on or if we had got beaten. I had no idea.

“I was a bit starstruck by it all, to tell you the truth.”

Charleville trainer William Pugsley prepares BOTB champion Roll Up and he had praise for Sweedman following the race.

“He rode the horse well, he never left the paint,” Pugsley said.

“I shook his hand after the race. I told him it was a great ride from Scotty.”

Regardless of the result, it was a day to remember for the long-time bush hoop, who now calls Inverell home in Northern New South Wales.

He tallied more than 1,600 rides outside of the city before breaking into the higher ranks.

Ka Bling was nearly last as they turned for home in the 1200 metre BOTB and Sweedman was able to sneak all the way up the inside on the fence to give his mount a winning hope.

He has been riding across both states, mostly on the country circuit, since late 1993 and has become a trusted ride for Sunshine State conditioners Pat Webster, Waldron, Leslie Baker and Wayne Baker over the years.

“It is definitely the highlight day of my career I'd say,” he said.

“Everyone down there was just so helpful and absolutely brilliant.

“The speed was well and truly on and we were probably a bit further back than what we thought.

“We were held up coming to the corner for a little bit, but not much. It all panned out up the straight and you couldn't ask for it to go any better, things just fell into place.

“We nearly pulled it off. He had to give all those horses weight, he gave some of them nine kilograms, which was massive by the horse.”

The hoop is hopeful Waldron will have runners come the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede Finals in the summer months, so he can have another shot at city riding.

Ironically, Sweedman started his riding journey at Eagle Farm when he was a teenager.

He completed an 18-month stint in the city and competed in trials and rode plenty of trackwork.

But, in his own words, he was a bit too ‘bush’ to live and ride in Brisbane, so he made his way out to the country.

He began riding in areas such as Glen Innes and Moree in regional NSW.

The hardworking hoop eventually made his way up to St George in Queensland, where he restarted his apprenticeship as a mature-aged rider with respected bush horseman Webster.

He applied for a city licence at one point, when he was working for Webster, but he was knocked back as he did not have many provincial winners to his name at the time.

Because of his weight, Sweedman has endured a ‘stop-start’ tenure as a rider over the last decade and has considered stepping away completely at times.

But, he is enjoying his best season in more than 15 years, with 20 winners to his name at an 18% strike-rate.

The bulk of those winners have come in Queensland, scoring at Roma, Cunnamulla, Longreach, Quilpie and Charleville in recent times.

Sweedman will look to add to the already impressive 2025-26 campaign when he heads to Goondiwindi on Sunday for two bookings.

He will partner with Hi Frank for Roma trainer Jon Taylor and Ridge Wilson’s Meddlesome.

Mare Meddlesome goes to the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1200 metres and Sweedman thinks the Inverell-prepared runner is a big chance.

“I see Meddlesome every day down here with Ridge,” he said.

“She's only little and she's got a big weight, but she's consistent. She has to be a big chance in this race; she will play a major part in it.

“She'd have to be in that race up to her eyeballs.”

Regarded as a heavyweight hoop, Sweedman usually rides around the 58kg mark, but can get lower during the summer months.

Away from his riding endeavours, Sweedman runs a lawnmowing business in regional NSW, while his partner Danni Schreck prepares a small stable of her own as a trainer.

Before riding at Goondiwindi on Sunday, Sweedman will take three bookings at Mungindi on Saturday, two for Waldron and one for Schreck.