Alisha Donald to follow in parents' footsteps

By Jordan Gerrans

Born into a family with two jockeys as parents, Alisha Donald was told from a young age she would never ride.

Her father, former Queensland hoop Darren Donald, felt it would be too dangerous for her daughter to follow in his and wife Kathy’s footsteps.

Growing up around the industry and horses, Alisha chased her dreams, ignored her parents' suggestions and will this weekend make her race riding debut at Home Hill.

The Rockhampton-based apprentice has been on a long journey in racing, starting out as a stable hand and strapper with trainer Tom Button, progressing to an apprenticeship a few years later with Tim Cook before her maiden ride this weekend.

“They did not want me to ride, they thought it was too dangerous,” Alisha recalled of her conversations with her parents.

“My dad told me I would never sit on a racehorse and once I turned 18, I told him I was going to ride and he couldn’t really stop me.

“Mum finished her apprenticeship as a jockey, but got a little bit heavy, while Dad rode in Brisbane a little bit, but he was a little bit heavy as well.

“They both basically finished up riding once I was born.”

Alisha grew up in Gympie before making the move to central Queensland to work with the now Sunshine Coast-based Button.

While she started out as a stable hand and strapper, Button quickly got her riding and once he made the move south, she remained and started her apprenticeship with Cook around two years ago.

The 22-year-old certainly hasn’t rushed into this weekend’s first rides at Home Hill, recently taking time away to ensure she was ready.

“It has been good, it has been a long road but it’s probably the best thing for me,” she said.

“I decided to have a few weeks off recently and I have just started to get my fitness up again before this Saturday.

“I have taken a while and taken my time to get stronger for my riding.

“I wanted to make sure my head was in the right space before I started riding, I took a little bit of time off.

“I wanted to give myself that break because this will be a massive four years once I start riding.

“I have aimed to take it steadier, riding a little less work and keeping to myself.”

Donald has two booked rides for Burdekin Race Club on Saturday, one is an emergency who is likely to start at Mackay on Friday, leaving the unraced Jink and Jive as her only ride in the Maiden Plate.

“When we first got her, she did not know much, but I did all the work on her,” Donald said of the Tim Cook-trained mare.

“She trialled good the other day in a long jump-out, she was quick out of the barriers so 1000 metres will suit her this week.

“In her first start, you never quite know how she will go.”

Donald is one of two apprentices from Rockhampton to make their riding debut this weekend, with Tahlia Fenlon (pictured) heading out to Emerald.

Fenlon, who works for Rockhampton trainer Fred Smith, has a full book for the five race non-TAB card.

“We are good mates, she rides two in work for us every morning before starting with Fred Smith,” Donald said of Fenlon.

“She is helpful for our stable.”

Smith congratulated his new apprentice.

“It will be a very special moment for us all to see her riding against Elyce Beak who has been a very influential part of Tahlia’s career,” Smith said on his Fred Smith Racing Facebook page.

“We would also like to thank all the trainers who have supported Tahlia to get to this point as well as those that have offered her race rides for Saturday and the weekends ahead.

“Congratulations on achieving this goal Tahlia, we wish you all the best and can’t wait to watch where your chosen career path takes you.”