Mackie swaps saddle for stable with first win

By Jordan Gerrans

Brooke Mackie stepped away from a promising riding career just before welcoming her son Cooper into the world, but she is still finding ways to produce winners despite retiring from the saddle.

The 25-year-old has recently ventured into training her own team at Toowoomba and landed her maiden victory with her stable at Kilcoy on Monday afternoon.

With just her eighth runner as a trainer, Mackie scored victory with Successismagic in a Maiden Handicap over 1500 metres, with top hoop Georgina Cartwright steering the gelding to victory.

As a rider, Mackie tallied 21 winners through 2018 and 2019, before taking her last race ride at Nanango in September of 2019.

She was indentured to Queensland horsewoman Caroline Allardyce in the early stages of her apprenticeship, while she also spent time under the guidance of Tony Sears.

“Caroline taught me how to ride trackwork and most things about riding racehorses,” Mackie reflected.

“Later on, I moved to Toowoomba and Tony also supported me greatly and sent horses to the bush for me to ride.

“I was pretty lucky in having two really good masters in my short time of riding.”

Mackie retired from the jockey ranks after she and fellow former jockey-turned-trainer Nick Keal welcomed baby Cooper.

Like his parents, young Cooper is keen on his racing, with his mother noting that he loves to keep an eye on their horses.

In more recent times, Mackie has spent time working for the now retired Mark Currie, which helped her bring horses such as Successismagic to her stable.

Since being transferred under Mackie’s training banner, the four-year-old had two runs at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, before breaking through at Kilcoy after stepping up in trip to 1500 metres.

From a wide gate, Cartwright was able to bounce to the front and lead all the way on Monday.

“It was really good with the step up in distance and being able to go forward in the race,” the young trainer said.

“Georgie rode him a treat and it is good to get the first one off the board.

“That was the plan to go to the front, especially here around Kilcoy.

“I put Georgie on, she's good at getting them out, getting to the front and she rated him beautiful.

“Mark owns this horse and I used to work for Mark for quite a few years.

“So, it is really good to team up with him, he's got a good bunch of owners, as well, so it is really good.”

Hoop Cartwright made her intentions known not long after the gates opened and she was in front of the field not long after they went past the Kilcoy winning post on the first occasion.

Successismagic and Cartwright went on to land the prize by more than a length.

“It was my first sit on him and it just looked like last start that he just wants the ground that he got in this race,” the jockey said.

“I was probably surprised to be in the lead, but we got there easy from the wider gate.

“This track is always advantageous to be on pace.

“He definitely needed the run over 1500 metres, I think, so he was probably found wanting a little bit late, but he is going to definitely improve off this win.”

Mackie was naturally chuffed to prepare her first winner in the training ranks after tasting regular success as a rider all those years ago.

“It's good, it's really good,” she said.

“It is rewarding when stuff like this happens, that's for sure, it's good.”

Mackie is back at the races on her home track at Toowoomba Turf Club on Saturday night with Shining Proisir in the Colts, Geldings and Entires Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Mackie has been training on her own for about three months.