Fergusson-Smith makes winning return after injury layoff

By Jordan Gerrans

After a long injury rehabilitation journey, Paige Fergusson-Smith has returned to the races in the best possible way, landing a winner with her first ride back.

The Gold Coast-based jockey was off the scene from October last year until her return on Saturday.

Riding for her long-time master, Paul Shailer, Fergusson-Smith scored aboard Divine Mandate at Grafton to deliver an emotional win in her comeback to the races after almost a year away from race riding.

“I was obviously wanting it to be planned out exactly how it did and I was just rapt to do it,” she said.

“I was even more happy and rapt to do it for Paul and the Shailer stable and family because they have been by my side the whole way and helped me through a lot of it - well, actually all of it.

“It was just nice to be able to get the win and get it for them, as well, give something back.

“They've given a lot to me and that was just nice to be able to give that back to them.”

Divine Mandate was able to nab the prize in the Maiden Plate over 1410 metres, with the Gold Coast gelding starting as the favourite in the event.

The 25-year-old apprentice trialled the son of Exceedance in the middle of July as she ramped up her comeback.

The Kiwi native believes riding the gelding in a trial - as well as some of his recent trackwork - helped deliver the victory on Saturday.

Divine Mandate started well-supported in the market in his two prior runs in August, which came at the Gold Coast and Grafton.

“I trialled him a couple of weeks prior to him racing, when he first started his prep,” she said.

“I trialled him and then I rode him on a regular basis.

“So, I knew him quite well and knew him going into the race and going off how his last race went, we knew he was a little bit slow at the gate.

"It was something that we were aware of that could possibly happen, which ended up happening.

“So, I just didn't panic and I ended up jumping slow away, but knew that he was the favourite for a reason and we got there in the end.

“It wasn't pretty at the end, but we got the job done.

“So, obviously, knowing him was very helpful.”

After such a lengthy spell away from the races, Fergusson-Smith is taking it slow in her return to the races and, after taking one mount last Saturday, she will again be legged up just once on Saturday of this week at Kempsey.

She will ride Jevington Will Do for Hilary Dew at Kempsey Race Club on Saturday.

But, she is keen to ramp up her race day engagements the coming weeks.

“We are taking rides again wherever and whenever,” she said.

“So, pretty much just being able to ride whenever.

“So, I am excited to be back pretty much completely and want to hit the ground running and just get as much exposure as I possibly can, really.”

After long being based at the Gold Coast with Shailer, Fergusson-Smith is soon set to start a loan spell with Tony Ball at Taree.

Fergusson-Smith famously rode a winner on debut at Warwick in September of 2025 and has since added another seven career victories.