Wendy Peel out to cement herself as a senior rider

By Jordan Gerrans

With her time as an apprentice to come to an end in the near future, hoop Wendy Peel knows the time is now to establish herself for when she graduates to the senior ranks.

The 29-year-old has seen her opportunities at the metropolitan level increase in recent months – booked for five engagements at the transferred Doomben meeting to Toowoomba last Saturday afternoon.

The light-weight hoop will also soon take part in the annual National Apprentice Race Series, which she will use as another opportunity to establish herself in the Brisbane riding ranks.

Peel was booked by experienced trainers such as Robert Heathcote and Barry Lockwood on Saturday, and explained that she had been working hard of late around being stronger in the finish in her race rides, as well placing horses better in the run with her master Lorraine Erhart.

Her opportunities have picked up in town this season – riding seven metro winners in the 2021-22 campaign - up from two the season before.

Peel, who can ride consistently at around 51kgs, faces an important period of her career before soon becoming a senior jockey.

“It is a little bit nerve-racking, I am making the most of it now as when you come out of your time there is no claim any more,” Peel said.

“Then, you are really having to ride at your best.

“Over the next six months or so, I really have to make the most of it.

“I just need to knuckle down and hopefully I can get as many opportunities as possible between now and then.

“Hopefully when I do come out of my time, I still get the same support I did when I was an apprentice.”

Shane Scriven - Senior Racing Queensland Apprentice Coach – has been impressed with Peel’s growth as a rider since her metro opportunities have risen in recent months.

“Wendy has climbed the ranks quickly as of late, she has a fantastic work ethic so she deserves her place in a series like this,” Scriven said.

Peel will represent Queensland in the Doomben leg of the upcoming NARS series, which kicked off in South Australia on Wednesday afternoon.

The Brisbane leg is the second of the series – which will be run seven days after the Strathalbyn races. 

Being her last year as an apprentice, Peel is keen to again be involved in the popular series.

“I am really looking forward to representing Queensland at the Doomben leg of the series,” Peel said.

“Hopefully I can get a good ride in the series and help win it for Queensland.

“It is my last year being an apprentice so I am making the most of that.

“It is a really great initiative as you meet lots of different riders from other states.”

Queensland have been a bridesmaid in the NARS series a few times in recent years and Scriven is hopeful 2022 might just be the year the Sunshine State riders break through.

The series is also a key learning tool in a young rider's career, Scriven feels.

“It is exactly that, we are taking the out of their comfort zones and going to different tracks,” Scriven said.

“It is all about the comradery and being around different jocks.

“That sort of experience, you can’t buy that for these apprentices.

“It is not always the best apprentices getting selected to represent Queensland in this series, it is about attendance at apprentice school and your academic and disciplinary record.”

There will be two apprentice races at Doomben on March 16, including a NARS heat, where a $5000 bonus will also be paid to the winning trainer of each respective race.

First held in 2008, the series draws together apprentices to represent their state in a collection of races across the country.

Points are awarded for the top five placings in each leg of the series, with the state that accumulates the most points crowned the winner.