Apprentice Shania Willis being guided by Group-winning hoop

By Jordan Gerrans

At 13 years of age Shania Willis knew she wanted to work with horses through her life but was unsure of which specific role she would chase within the racing industry.

After working her way up from stable hand, to track work rider and eventually apprentice hoop – the now 18-year-old Willis believes she has found her long-term place around the horses.

She took three engagements on her first afternoon as a fully-fledged race riding jockey on Saturday afternoon at Monto.

Willis is alone in her family when it comes to her keen interest in racing - none of her immediately family have been directly involved in the sport - but they were all a proud bunch on Saturday to watch her debut.

The lightweight youngster went closest to claiming a maiden victory in her first ride – finishing second just over a length behind the winner – and while a breakthrough victory did not come first-up, it was all about experience for the Woodford-based teenager.  

“I felt it went pretty good, I was pretty happy with it,” Willis said.

“I was a bit unlucky on the first ride of the three, but that happens I guess, it was close.

“It was a great experience and a good day out – I was pretty happy with it all.

“From starting out a long time ago, it took a while but once I got there on Saturday it was a big relief that I finally made a big step, I was pretty excited about it.”

Originally from Melbourne, Willis started out at Cindy Alderson’s stables as a 13-year-old and ended up in South East Queensland when her family decided to relocate around two years ago.

That is when she met trainer Gordon Hay, who prepares his gallopers on his own private track at Woodford, and is aided by Myles Plumb, who was a former champion apprentice in Queensland and rode five winners in a day at Randwick before becoming a trainer overseas.

Hay and Plumb have guided Willis towards the early stages of her riding career.

“Gordon, he is really good, he is old school but he has been a massive help for me, he is always looking after me,” she said.

“Gordon’s horses are all good to ride.

“I told Gordon I wanted to be a jockey and he has helped me since.

“Myles helps me with my riding and picking up race rides, as well.

“Hopefully I can just pick up rides and get as much experience as I can as well as getting in with some new trainers and go from there.”

Shane Scriven - Racing Queensland's Senior Apprentice Coach – said Plumb works with Willis on a daily basis to help advise and coach her as he works as Hay’s stable foreman.

Plumb has in recent years ridden track work for Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich before joining Hay’s yard.

Willis has found her way to becoming a jockey through a love of working with horses.

“I wanted to work with horses but I did not know specifically what I wanted to do and I always had an idea of wanting to be a jockey,” she said.

“I pretty much just worked my way up from there, I eventually started track work riding when I was 15 and my family moved to Queensland two years ago and I eventually found Gordon up here because he was close to us.”

While none of Willis’ family were previously involved in racing, they were on hand at Monto on Saturday.

“From not knowing much about racing, they were all pretty excited,” she said.

The aspiring rider was supported by several leading trainers during the process of gaining experience through trials and jump-outs, including David Vandyke and Tom Button, among others.

She was given the opportunity to ride Vandyke stable star Weona Smartone in a trial, in what she described as “exciting”.

As well as riding work at Hay’s Woodford track, Willis will at times venture into Caloundra to ride work for other barns, which she is hopefully of doing more of in the coming weeks with an eye towards picking up more race rides.