Former jockey out to make mark in training arena

By Jordan Gerrans

Despite an almost decade long absence from the racing industry in an official capacity, former jockey Mark Atkinson has declared he never lost the passion for game.

The 55-year-old makes a return to the races with a new title this Saturday afternoon – as a licensed trainer.

The former North Queensland jockey called time on his riding career in the first month of 2014, with his last ride coming at Mareeba.

Atkinson’s maiden starter as a trainer will come just down the road at Atherton with maiden galloper Bohemian Flyer set to face the starter over 1000 metres.

“I always wanted to get back into it but there was a few things in my life that slowed that,” Atkinson said.

“I spent some time working out in the mines.

“I never lost the passion for racing – I have been doing it since I was 16 – so I was never going to lose the passion for it all.”

Growing up around horses and cattle, Atkinson was initially an amateur jockey but once those opportunities dried up, he became a professional rider.

As he did not begin as a professional hoop, Atkinson says was not used to dieting as a younger person as most jockeys would, so when he got older, he found it tough to keep his weight down.

After having his first rides as a teenager, he eventually pulled the pin at age 47.

It was an admirable effort to ride for as long as he did as he battled with constant weight concerns.

“I got to the stage where I just could not get the weight off any more,” he said.

Atkinson rode throughout Central and North Queensland during his tenure as a jockey, as well as a short stint in Victoria in his younger days.

Taking the next step into his own training venture, the former hoop is riding all his own work at his property, as well as when he heads into the Mareeba track for fast gallops.

Bohemian Flyer is unplaced in eight career race starts but the rookie trainer has been working hard behind the scenes with the gelding.

Fellow Tablelands trainer Allan Holmes initially picked up the gelding from Greg Cornish before he was transferred into the care of Atkinson.

“Allan Holmes owned him outright and he asked me if I would have a look at him as he has a few problems,” he said.

“He eventually asked me to have a crack at training him so I fell into it really.

“He is a very quiet horse so he has got me back into it.”

The son of Your Song has raced on the speed across many of those eight efforts before fading late.

Atkinson has been working on Bohemian Flyer getting to the line strongly in his gallopers to ensure he does not switch off in the closing stages of his races.

Bohemian Flyer will be first-up since late December of 2021 on Saturday in the Maiden Plate. 

“He will lead them over 1000 or 1400 metres and then will stop with 200 metres to go,” the trainer said of his previous runs. 

“He will be in front and look like he will challenge for a win and then he just stops.

“I think that has to do with his trials as he was not ridden out hard in trials as most people do not push horses hard to the line in trials.

“I think this horse has learnt to just be held to the line.

“That is what I have been working on with him.”

Atkinson – who trains on 100 acres – is hopeful of adding one more to his racing stable but says he does not want to eventually have a big team in work.

Atkinson and his extended family are deeply involved with the popular Mt Garnet Amateur Turf Club, which hosts a two-day carnival every year.

Mt Garnet will run their annual race days in late April in 2023.

The Atkinson clan have been associated with the Mt Garnet club for generations and were one of the first group of people to race horses at the NQ track.

Meanwhile, Cairns-based jockey Scott Gittos has picked up two engagements for the leading Janel Ryan stable at Atherton Saturday afternoon.