Mackay apprentice jockey aiming for career best win at Rockhampton

By Jordan Gerrans

Just days after her biggest victory in the saddle yet, Mackay apprentice hoop Nicole Seymour believes she has the horse to go one better again.

The 27-year-old earned the largest share of stakes in her riding career so far last Saturday afternoon on her home track as veteran warhorse Fratellino nabbed the Mackay Lightning in a thrilling finish.

Fratellino is soon to tick over to 10 years of age and recently went past the 100 start milestone for his career.

The evergreen gelding is prepared by Seymour’s boss Tracy Simmons.

The $35,000 purse on offer from the annual Mackay Lightning is the biggest prize money victory of Seymour’s tenure as a jockey, which dates back to her maiden race rides back to the 2017-18 season.

She has the chance to again raise the bar under a week later in the feature Belle of Capricornia race for fillies and mares on the opening day of the 2023 Northern Winter Carnival this Friday. 

A total of $50,000 goes on the line Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400 metres for the girls at Callaghan Park.

Seymour has been booked for the Wayne Winters-trained Ghosted in the feature race, which is a support event on Rockhampton Newmarket day.

Seymour – who grew up in the ‘Sugar City’ – does all Ghosted’s gallops and was in the saddle for her return run late last month at Mackay.

“Her first-up run over a mile at Mackay the other day was beautiful,” Seymour said.

“First-up over a mile she just knocked up over the last bit and with a little bit extra fitness now under her belt and now she drops back in distance a little bit, I think she will be a very competitive horse in this race.

“She is a versatile horse to ride – you can either go back or forward on her,

“It always is good to draw a gate at Rocky as we have done and she has been working the house down, as well. I think we will be competitive in this race.”

Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman Rob Carr is pleased with the talent and number of gallopers set to face the starter over their two-day carnival, headlined by the annual Cup on Saturday afternoon.

“We are delighted with the support and believe the Callaghan Park track will be in top condition,” Carr said.

Seymour started her apprenticeship with Callaghan Park trainer Lyle Rowe before transferring back to Mackay and has since worked for Simmons.

It was a special victory for all involved to see Fratellino claim the feature sprint at Mackay last Saturday.

Seymour says the nine-year-old veteran went through a flat spot in his form earlier this year when she was on the sidelines with an injury and there was some thought of retiring the old stager.

But, the apprentice rider describes Fratellino as a ‘mumma’s boy’ and notes that he does not run as well for other jockeys as he does for her.

The Lightning victory puts the team straight into the $75,000 Mackay Newmarket Handicap over 1300 metres on Friday, July 14.

The following Saturday after the Mackay Newmarket, the $150,000 Mackay Cup will be run over 2000 metres, along with the Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas over 1560 metres.

The stable are looking forward to seeing their stalwart line up in the Newmarket at Mackay later in the month.

“He went beautiful and he is a bit of a ‘mumma’s boy’,” the apprentice hoop said of Fratellino's Lightning victory.

“He definitely showed up for us on Saturday and that was pretty exciting for us to get a win on our old horse.

“It was brilliant as he is owned by Tracy and her dad – he is a special horse to them.

“It is qualifies us automatically for the Mackay Newmarket so it makes it easy for us to aim at that one now, as well.”

Following her ride at Rockhampton on Friday afternoon, Seymour heads north for a full book of engagements at Home Hill on Saturday afternoon on their non-TAB program.