Maddie Mankelow makes tracks for maiden race rides

By Jordan Gerrans

Maddie Mankelow has been credited for preparing a Toowoomba galloper for black-type fortunes and the apprentice hoop now gets her chance to showcase her own riding skills.

The lightweight youngster who hails from Nanango will have her maiden races rides on Sunday as she heads to Charleville for two engagements on the non-TAB program.

The 21-year-old has a long history working in the education and pre-training process before focussing on her own riding career.

Since shifting to the Darling Downs to further her apprenticeship, Mankelow has been a regular partner of multiple stakes winner Cifrado.

Mankelow is indentured to Toowoomba’s Rochelle Pereira and the youngster will also often ride work for Cifrado’s trainer Rex Lipp as well as Michael Nolan once she has finished with her boss’ team every morning.

As well as working closely with Cifrado through his journey, Pereira says her apprentice also was instrumental in preparing talented filly Blantons Run to her debut victory at Ipswich earlier this year.

“Maddie had a bit of a part in his career,” Pereira said of Cifrado.

“And, Blantons Run, I credit a lot of that to Maddie as she did a lot of work on her, educating her. She is a hard worker.”

Leading Toowoomba trainers Lipp and Nolan both rewarded Mankelow with jump-out and trial rides in the months leading towards her race day debut as she built up her experience.

Mankelow began her riding journey at Nanango before starting work with renowned pre-trainer and breaker Jake Capewell.

She spent two years under Capewell’s leadership.

“I can’t take a lot of credit for Maddie’s riding as she came to me from Jake Capewell with a great grounding,” Pereira said.

“Jake gave her a great foundation as he only has a few race horses but he mainly does the breaking and pre-training for Tony Gollan.

“She had a pretty good grounding of education and riding babies and young horses.

“With those abilities, she has been a great help to my stable to ride and educate young horses. She works pretty hard.”

The small Pereira barn have enjoyed a strong start to the new year, preparing five winners so far.

The stable are in the relatively unique position of having two apprentice riders working for them at the same time with Olivia Webb also under the banner of Pereira.

“Rochelle is lovely and one of the best bosses I have ever had,” Mankelow said.

“She supports me in everything I do.”

Pereira said Webb – who has recently been handed a city riding licence – has also been a big help in Mankelow’s growth as a rider, galloping horses with her on a consistent basis.

Pereira takes pride in being able to educate young riders after having a number of female apprentice’s work for her yard over the years.

“I love to see them blossom and progress through in their careers,” Pereira said.

Mankelow is in the lucky position of walking around at around 49 kgs so weight should not be an issue as her riding career progresses.

She heads to Central Warrego Race Club on Sunday for two rides: Bag Of Whitt in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1000 metres for Wayne Baker and Blindside for Carmel Baker in the Class B Handicap over the same trip.

Mankelow’s quest to become a jockey began when her mum bought a pony for her when she was 12 years of age and she never looked back.

“I am nervous and excited all at once, it is a wave of emotions,” she said about her first race rides.

“Being a jockey is something I have always wanted to do.

“The animal – horses are pretty incredible animals – and I like to go fast.”