Spotlight On: Cejay Graham

By Brodie Nickson

Apprentice jockey Cejay Graham has enjoyed a tremendous start to her Queensland career as she plans to call Brisbane home.

Currently, Graham (41 wins) is strides ahead of Bailey Wheeler (29.5) in the Metropolitan Apprentice Jockeys Premiership, following a special start to the season.

“I have been having a really good run since the new season ticked over and things are going very well,” Graham said.

Already experienced, having ridden in both Sydney and country New South Wales, Graham made the brave decision to move north of the border after a string of successful hit and run missions.

“The move up here from Port Macquarie is one of the best things I have done and I have just been given very good support since moving this way,” Graham said.

“It has been a snowball effect and things continue to grow well. Most weeks have been bobbing up a winner every Saturday and most Wednesdays as well.”

Graham was born to be a natural. Her father, Peter, is a former jockey-turned-trainer and has passed on his immense equine knowledge onto his children.

“I never really had my eye on being a jockey early. We lived across the road from the Port Macquarie Racecourse and I used to love going across with Dad to pat and work with the horses because I love the animal,” Graham said.

“It wasn’t until around 13-15 years-of-age where I got a pony and rode it in the middle of the racecourse.”

Graham’s passion for horses continued to grow until she eventually began flirting with the idea of a career in the saddle.

“I was very nervous to tell Dad because I knew he didn’t want me to be a jockey, but he said, ‘if you are going to learn to ride trackwork you are going to do it my way,' ” she said.

“I did that for just over a year and sort of knew from the first moment I was keen to be a jockey. From the moment I did my first jump out I knew for certain it’s what I wanted to do.”

Emphasising patience, Graham’s father allowed her to continue her riding education on the clear stipulation she finished high school, a decision she looks back on with great gratitude.

“I was frustrated at the time because I hated school and I knew what I wanted to do, but now I look back at it and wish he held me back for longer. You don’t realise how small and immature you were at the time,” Graham said.

“I would hate to see how little I was two years before I started and waiting made me want it more.

“Dad rode around every day with me and taught me everything I needed to know.

“My boss at the time in Port Macquarie, John Sprague, was a fantastic boss as well.”

The next few years were a rollercoaster of emotions for Graham as she enjoyed an ‘amazing experience’ under the tutelage of leading Sydney trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, before suffering a shocking fall in January 2021.

Graham was dislodged from her mount on the way to the barriers at Lismore and was immediately transferred to hospital where scans showed she had suffered compression fractures to her T2, T3 and T4 vertebrae.

It is moments like this throughout her career that Graham pays special homage to her outstanding foundation of support, admitting she never would have been able to achieve what she has without it.

In addition to her father, Graham has relied tremendously on the love and support of her mother, Karen, and partner, Kirk Matheson.

After completing the long road to recovery, she opted to return to work under Jenny Graham.

“Jenny was a great master and allowed me to freelance, which was huge for me at the time,” Graham said.

“She had a very small team in work so that allowed me to travel to Brisbane to ride work and racedays.”

Cejay began completing the six-hour drive to Brisbane from Port Macquarie twice a week as she chased metropolitan opportunities.

She would stay at a friend’s place and ride work in Brisbane before Kelly Schweida offered the 25-year-old an opportunity in his stable.

“I rode one for Kelly one day at Doomben, I think, and he asked me what my plans were. I said ‘I would love to move up here and just need a boss. You would make a pretty good boss’, which we had a laugh over,” Graham said.

“He didn’t say much more after that and then a few weeks later he came up to me and asked if I wanted to be his apprentice.

“At the time I didn’t know if he was serious or joking but I took the opportunity with both hands.

“I rang him up the next day where we spoke about everything, confirmed a date to start and it is the best thing I ever did. I just wish I could have made the move sooner, but I am just so thankful with how everything has worked out.”

Graham has subsequently stamped herself as a leading apprentice in a very competitive South-East Queensland jockey’s room.

Her metropolitan claim has quickly dwindled down to 1.5kg as she enjoys a scintillating patch of form.

“It has just been amazing since moving up here with the support base around me and hopefully I can keep riding winners to justify the support,” Graham said.

“It (the claim) went very quick. When I moved up here, I was claiming 3kg and I said to myself ‘even if I can get down to 1.5kg I would be really happy’.

“It was a small goal I set to ride out my 3kg claim, because I came up here with no expectations towards the sort of opportunities I would be getting and that is the only goal I had my sights set on. To think I am aiming for the apprentice premiership is pretty amazing.”

One of the biggest highlights for Graham has been her association with emerging three-year-old Weigall Tiger.

The Saxon Warrior gelding won four straight races under Graham, stamping himself as a leading contender for the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Despite securing the ride and finishing 14^th in the Magic Millions Guineas, Graham was stoked to saddle up for the biggest race ride of her career.

“He (Weigall Tiger) is definitely one I have loved riding and the improvement each time he steps out has been so satisfying. He has taken the owners and myself on a great ride,” Graham said.

“Vodka Martini is another. It is really nice to build an association with horses and connections like that.”

Graham is staying very grounded and realistic about her any goals for 2024, focusing her intent on maintaining her form throughout the rest of her premiership and beyond.

“I would love for things to continue when I come out of my apprenticeship. It is obviously such a crucial time in anyone’s career and just hope I can keep kicking along up here,” she said.

“I love Brisbane and I want to call it home.”