Our Awesome Apprentices

Te Akau has been home to a number of apprentice jockeys during its thirty-five years of operation, namely: Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson, Troy Harris, Daniel Stackhouse, Samantha Collett, Daniel Miller and Jasmine Fawcett who notched her first win when riding Zambezi Warrior (Pentire) to instructions last Sunday at Pukekohe.

“I'm a little overwhelmed,” Fawcett said. “I keep finding stories and posts about me on Facebook, and NZ Racing, which is overwhelming but good.

A name synonymous with sport in New Zealand (her uncle Kit Fawcett played for the All Blacks), Fawcett (22) was bred and raised locally at Walton.

On horseback by age five, Fawcett competed at pony club, represented the New Zealand Mounted Games team in France, and had a stint at a livery yard in England, before securing an apprenticeship with Te Akau Racing.

“The Mounted Games are relays and obstacles on ponies, going as fast as you can,” Fawcett said. “Getting on and off, putting balls in buckets, bending through poles, and other agility tests with the essence on speed and the first one home wins.

“Mum paid $200 for my first horse and what I've had is basically what I've been given."

In her short time of race day riding, Fawcett has been proactive in seeking rides and it was fitting that her employer provided the first win.

“The first thing I did was to ring David (Ellis) and thanked him for the ride, and I'm very proud and feel privileged to have ridden my first winner in the Te Akau colours,” Fawcett said.

“I think I work very hard and it's a big team effort and I'm lucky to be where I am and have the support of the stable.

“I'm lucky to have Stephen (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) as trainers. Stephen has the background experience and is very knowledgeable. You listen when he speaks, because he knows what he's talking about.

“Steve said to me, ‘I think you're going to make it because you've got the commitment and that's what it's about'.

“Jamie has been very good to me too. He is always helping me with my riding style, watches all my trials and both he and Steve discuss my rides and point out the good things and those I need to improve on. 

“My goal is to become the next Matt Cameron, the next Te Akau jockey.  I've been around the world and I know that I definitely at the right place, and there is no place I'd rather be,” Fawcett said.

While the aforementioned former apprentices had the aptitude to climb the ladder in their chosen field, they were helped in no small way by the environment, tuition, quality of horses offered to ride, and instrumentally the opportunity presented to them by Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“One thing that gives me an enormous amount of satisfaction is seeing young people that work really hard, are dedicated to the industry, succeed, and Jasmine is a young lady that is extremely reliable, extremely dedicated, extremely hard-working and deserves all the success that comes her way” Ellis said.

“I can't remember all the apprentices that I've given their first winning ride to, but some of them are: Daniel Stackhouse, his sister Emma Stackhouse, Darren Weatherley, Reese Jones, Troy Harris, Opie Bosson, and Dan Miller, to name a few.

“It was nice to see Jasmine win on Zambezi Warrior,” said Ellis, who purchased the son of Pentire as a yearling at Karaka.  He has a really good future as a stayer and it was nice to see some of the owners including Donna and Robert Rudd and Peter Butler, there to cheer him and Jasmine on.

This Sunday Jasmine rides Amperage (Zabeel) who is raced in the same ownership syndicate as Zambezi Warrior - wouldn't it be great if lightning struck twice?!

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