Less Ross has high hopes for apprentice hoop Lilli Barr

By Jordan Gerrans

Eagle Farm trainer Les Ross has long believed that a good apprentice jockey will have one master.

He thinks an up-and-coming hoop having one person to mainly learn from builds discipline and work-ethic and can point to a number of champion jockeys who have come through that pathway.

Ross is hopeful his debut winning rider, Lilli Barr, can be that for his stable, starting out with him and spending her entire apprenticeship with his team.

Just 17 years of age, Barr completed a dream debut on Tuesday afternoon at Beaudesert, winning her first ever career race at her debut day at the races.

Aboard gelding Mishani Conman, Barr began as the favourite in her maiden event and showed experience beyond her years, going to the fence as they turned into the straight and did enough late to hold on in a tight-finish.

Starting out in show jumping and pony club, Barr has been with Ross for almost three years leading into her debut ride.

Apprentices such as Sheriden Tomlinson, Raymond Vigar, Matthew Dunn and Cecily Eaton, among others, have gone through Ross’ barn over the years.

“She is probably one of my better apprentices I have ever had and I say that because most of my apprentices have been with two or three trainers before coming to me,” Ross said.

“LillI has been brought up by her mum and dad and has been lucky enough to have them by her side.

“Many of the apprentices I have had, they had been to a few trainers before and I always say that a really good apprentice will have just one master.

“If you look at the good ones over the years like Michael Rodd, Zac Purton, Jim Byrne and there are a few others, the good jockeys are more disciplined and listen to the trainer if they have one master.

“It is all about discipline and learning and right now I am fortunate to have a few good kids in my stable with Sheriden Tomlinson and LillI.”

At a quiet Beaudesert race meeting on a Tuesday afternoon in winter, Barr’s friends and family were the majority of the crowd in attendance to mark the first day of her professional career, with Ross estimating there was a group of 15 there to watch on proudly.

“It was amazing and the most incredible time I have had,” Barr said.

“I was very happy.

“It was a dream come true coming first, then seeing everyone in the mounting yard cheering me on, it was amazing.”

Moments after the winning post, Barr admitted to not being sure if she had actually won the sixth race on the program but was delighted to realise, she had held on not long after.

Barr was first introduced to the racing industry by her father, who would often take her to the races as a teenager and her interest grew from there – eventually deciding to start her apprenticeship.

In celebrating the maiden victory achievement, Barr watched the replay on countless occasions with her family on Tuesday night.

Weight is unlikely to be an issue for the rookie rider, just 48kgs at the moment.

She is likely to go in search of her second winner in the saddle at Dalby next Tuesday afternoon.

The experienced trainer was confident Barr would be able to win on debut, having completed plenty of track work and jump outs on Mishani Conman.

He has been impressed with Barr’s skills early in her riding career, noting that not many young jockeys are able to pull the whip with their non-dominant hand, as she did, as well as making the quick decision to head to the fence on Tuesday.

“I have had plenty of kids over the years and she is a good one, she has been with me for nearly three years now and she is a good young girl, that is going places,” Ross said.

“She is going ahead in leaps and bounds.

“With kids, you need to keep them level-headed but we deliberately put those horses in on Tuesday for her to try and give her a winner – I thought they were both a good chance but the other one just missed the start, which is something that can happen with four kilogram kid.

“It is nice for her to get a win; everyone has seen her now and it will be easier for her to get rides now.”