Mankelow ready to make her mark on provincial circuit

By Jordan Gerrans

Hoop Maddie Mankelow believes she has landed at the ideal location to test herself on the provincial circuit after transferring her apprenticeship to the Renita Beaton barn at the Sunshine Coast.

The 23-year-old Mankelow was recently recognised for her outstanding 2025-26 season on the country circuit, where she was crowned the leading apprentice.

She tallied 57 winners at country meetings during the campaign after riding predominantly in the Central and North West of Queensland.

Mankelow chewed through her riding claim as she enjoyed regular success, including riding four winners at two different racing meetings as well as toasting Cup glory.

After recently shifting from Barcaldine to Caloundra, she is ready to test herself again at a high level and thinks the Beaton team will help her further her career ambitions.

“Renita, her partner Troy and the foreman, Meg, have all been great,” she said.

“The stable staff have been great.

“The transition's been fairly seamless. Obviously, they've been really supportive of me so far, giving me a good go. I've been there about, it's just not quite close enough.

“I got beaten in a close finish at Kilcoy the other day. I took off too early. It was my fault, but it's been great.

“Renita's good. She's always pretty positive and supportive of me.

“They don't like to put a lot of pressure on race day. They just try to say, ‘Keep it simple.’ But, probably my main goal is to just ride well for them so far.”

As Mankelow notes, she is yet to ride a winner in her new venture, but she has gone close on several occasions.

With her three-kilogram claim, the emerging apprentice has finished in the money four times in recent weeks.

Mankelow says she looks up to top riders in the city such as Angela Jones and Cejay Graham as she aims to also bounce towards the metropolitan circuit in the coming seasons.

“Obviously, we have a lot of good jockeys in the metropolitan ranks in Queensland,” she said.

“So, it would be pretty good to ride with them and learn more from the better riders.

“It's pretty important, I believe.”

The lightweight jockey was one of the dominant forces on the country scene last year and finished second in the overall premiership.

While she was 14 winners adrift of Lacey Morrison in the state-wide riding title, to finish second overall was a significant achievement in itself, alongside claiming the apprentice premiership.

Mankelow started her riding journey around the Darling Downs in April of 2024 before shifting to the Central West not long after.

It was a move that kick-started her career.

“To win the jockey apprenticeship award, it's pretty special,” she said.

“It's something that I didn't really think about going out and achieving. I was just out riding winners.

“But, I am very grateful to have won it. It means a lot. I started the season off very strongly.

“It's rewarding to know that there are big accomplishments at the end of everything you've put your heart out and all your hard work, tears and whatever else.”

The jockey says it was a tough test to be away from her close friends and family while living and riding in the bush across the Sunshine State.

So, she was chuffed to have them on hand at the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards to celebrate her stellar season.

“Being out in Barcaldine was harder than I would have thought at first, but it paid off,” she said.

“They've been very supportive. My parents were always very supportive. My sisters were extremely supportive.

“My best friend Liv O'Donnell has been the same.

“They're all really supportive always, so it's been good.”

Mankelow represented Queensland during the National Apprentice Race Series earlier this year.

Winning Cup races at venues such as Corfield, Maxwelton and Longreach for the annual RSL Diggers Cup were other highlights for the season.

“Being out in the Central West was rewarding,” she said.

“Obviously, you have to learn to ride with confidence, because they go pretty hammer and tongs.

“You have to be aggressive and be confident with your riding ability and where you are.

“It teaches you to be assertive and be aggressive. 

"I think I've developed a lot over the last 12 months.

“Everything kind of started to click. Now, after having some time off due to relocating, just finding my feet again here, learning how to ride at provincial meetings and just going from there.

“Obviously, you can't progress without consistent opportunities and that's what I was receiving out in the bush.

“Consistent full books, consistent support. So, I'm very grateful for that.”