Bravo Chelsea - You're a Champ

Accomplished young horsewoman and Te Akau apprentice jockey Chelsea Burdan (20) won the Linda Jones Trophy for Most Outstanding Female Apprentice during the 2019/20 season, presented at the Northern Apprentice Jockey Academy Awards on Monday in Rotorua. 

A year earlier, following her first season riding, Burdan had won the Most Promising Apprentice Jockey Award.

Among eight awards presented on the night, Burdan received the trophy of a galloping horse from Riding Master Noel Harris. 

It was a season that registered 31 wins for Burdan, including hat-tricks during September at Te Rapa, and October at Otaki. 

“I was really happy to receive the award and felt that all the hard work had paid off and I feel honoured,” Burdan said.

“I worked hard getting recognition from trainers and this season had taken on (racing manager) Ted McLaclan to help with my rides. 

“My favourite win for Te Akau would have to be on Spirit of Galway (Rip Van Winkle) on New Year's Day at Hastings. She jumped slow, got detached twice, and she flew from last to take the race out.

“And it was a thrill to win on Battle Time (Battle Paint) at Tauranga, when the saddle slipped and we still managed to get home.”

Far from her happy place at present, Burdan is enduring time on the sidelines following a race fall in mid-November and awaiting surgery to fix a plate to her right clavicle (collarbone) on Friday (11 Dec.) at Waikato Hospital.

“After the fall at Waverley, (fellow apprentice) Eilish McCall drove to the Wanganui Hospital and stayed with me and drove me home when we left about midnight,” Burdan said. “It was very kind of her.”

Prior to the injury, Burdan was sailing along nicely and already ridden 18 winners in the first three months of the season. 

“I was getting a nice little tally of wins and then I've sustained the injury which is going to take a while to repair and heal,” Burdan said.

“I'm lucky I've got my boyfriend (jumps' jockey, Reece Cole) to help me tie up my hair and all the other things I couldn't do.

“But, it's just the way it is and there are always high and lows in racing. I'm lucky in so many respects, too. 

“I'll get back to doing light duties as soon as possible at the stables, without overdoing it. Hopefully, everything goes to plan and it knits and recovers quickly so I can get back to riding.” 

Te Akau has been home to a number of apprentice jockeys, among others: Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson, Troy Harris, Daniel Stackhouse, Michael Dee, Samantha Collett, Daniel Miller, and Shafiq Rusof.  Star Sydney-based jockey James McDonald was also an apprentice when he was Te Akau stable rider before heading across the Tasman.

“Te Akau has a great reputation and history with apprentice jockeys and consider it an important part of the racing industry to back our young people and develop skill sets in our staff and young riders,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM.

“We've had champion apprentices and given many of them, including Chelsea, their first winning ride. What she's achieved to have already landed two hat-tricks last season is quite incredible and I'm immensely proud of her winning the award.” 

In her corner and also proud of what she is achieving, Riding Master Noel Harris says Burdan is a good example of the apprentices in this country.

“She's a standout, hungry to succeed and she's trying really hard,” said Harris, a Hall of Fame jockey with over 2000 wins. “She's got a will to win and she's a quick learner. She's listens, wants to better herself and succeed, and I just love that in her. 

“I know most apprentices are in a hurry, but she's one of those young women that if you point out what she's doing wrong she'll correct it straight away.”

As well as her regular duties: riding work, stable-hand at the colt barn, and race day riding, Burdan also finds time to workout at the gym and prepare retired thoroughbreds for re-homing. She had always used thoroughbreds when competing in eventing, cross country, and dressage, and believes that many retired racehorses have hidden talents off the track and enjoy competing in a different scene.

Well done Chelsea - the whole Te Akau team
is super proud of you!

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