By Andrew Mole
SHE finished 10th in a field of 11 at Echuca’s races on Monday – but for Shanae O’Meara, it was still party time.
Because she was a winner.
She had survived a horrific trackwork accident; recovered from injuries that might have left her disabled; and was back doing the work she loved.
And finally, after all that, Shanae was a real jockey, on a horse in a real race.
She had done plenty of trackwork, trials, and jump outs.
But this was the real deal – people had bet their money on her horse, its trainer and team had worked hard to get it to the track, and its owners were hoping for a big day out.
It’s a big responsibility for a youngster taking their first step on what they hope will be a long and successful career.
This was a real Cinderella story, six years in the making – and even though she didn’t win, Shanae was having a ball.
“Right up until I got on the horse in the mounting yard, it had all really seemed a long way away, and I think the family at home was more nervous about it than I was,” Shanae said after that first ride.
“You’re sitting in the starting barrier with all the other horses and jockeys, and all sorts of things go through your mind – about not disappointing all the people who had worked so hard to get the horse this far.
“Waiting for the starter to let them go the other jockeys talked to me, and told me it would all go faster than I knew.
“You’d think it wouldn’t go that fast; but they were right, and it did.
“Once we jumped it was all about getting in a spot, seeing what the others are doing and just when you think you can relax.
“You’re at the 600m and you have to start getting organised for the run home.”
It might have been ‘The Shanae Show’, with her first ride on Wasabi, a horse trained by Swan Hill’s Jane Duncan, but her master Austy Coffey was the one legging her up in the mounting yard.
Jockey Harry Coffey, who she had been working with on the morning of her accident, was also there.
“Jane told me Wasabi was a pretty easy ride, and Austy told me to ride her just like I do in the trials and I would be right,” Shanae said.
“Nothing was stopping me today and it has been really good to get all the support from the racing industry and everyone at home.
“And all through Victoria, people I didn’t even know helped me out.”
Shanae said she had been at the Coffey stable for six years, and described them as “awesome people”.
“They’re like family to me and they have done a lot for me.”
Her second ride was on the Maher/Eustace trained The Mobot, which has been in hot form, and the Coffeys might have had a hand in that as well.
“I think I can probably thank Harry for that one,” she said.
“I was talking to David (Eustace) earlier and he was giving me some instructions on how to ride the horse so hopefully it goes well for me and the team.”
Shanae said not only had the Coffeys been such an important part of her life, but working with Harry meant she was learning from an experienced and successful jockey.
“Harry has done a fair bit in racing, and all from Swan Hill, and has gone so far in his career,” she said.
“You can only aim to have a career like that.”
However her debut day was unfortunately cut short when the horse she would have ridden for Austy (Category Five) was scratched by the trainer after the track was upgraded to a Good 3 and his concern for the horse’s feet forced the decision.
“Even though I didn’t get to race for Austy, by the time I got back to Swan Hill that night I was still on such a high at having finally made a race start,” Shanae said.
Another highlight was joining legendary hoop Darren Gauci, who is now her mentor in the VRC apprentice jockey program.
He took her along the Echuca track, showing Shanae the signs to look out for, explaining the things you do at this mark, and the next.
Gauci rode a record-breaking 506 winners during his apprenticeship, and claimed the Victorian jockeys’ premiership three times (1983-84, 1984-85 and 1990-91).
Between Australia and Asia he would ride more than 2500 winners (including 35 Group Ones).
“The Coffeys and the others – they say your first day goes so quickly you won’t even remember it, and that is largely what happened,” Shanae said.
And on her second day, in Kyneton, Shanae was in her first photo finish, riding My Divas to third – her first career placing.
