Popular jockey aiming for riding comeback

By Jordan Gerrans

Inspired by fellow veteran hoop Cyril Small, Lyall Appo has declared he is aiming to make a comeback to the Queensland jockey ranks for his own mental health and well-being.

Now based at Chinchilla on the Western Downs, the 58-year-old is in the early stages of a race riding return.

The Indigenous hoop has not ridden in a race since March of 2017 at Esk, with his last winner coming at his home track of Eidsvold in February of that year.

A contemporary of Appo’s – evergreen pilot Small – collected a winner at Lismore earlier this month at the age of 64.

Set to turn 59 later in 2023, Appo would like to follow his old mate Small into riding beyond his 60^th birthday.

“Cyril is still inspiring me and riding winners,” Appo said.

“When Cyril came out of his time, I was just starting my apprenticeship.”

Appo, a proud Wakka Wakka man, completed a medical test on Wednesday in a bid to regain his riding licence and is working through all the required paperwork.

While Appo has not been race riding in recent years, he has not lost touch with the racing industry.

He attended and spoke at the 2022 TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards in Brisbane.

The respected hoop was also a dignitary and guest speaker for an Aboriginal Flag raising ceremony outside the offices of Racing Queensland at Deagon in the middle of last year.

The comeback is about more than just riding winners to Appo.

“It is for my own mental health,” he said.

“I want to make another comeback before I get too old, I just want to have another go.

“It is for my own benefit and my well-being.

“It is hard to get away from racing when you grow up with it as a kid and live in that world.

“Riding is something I could always do so I thought I better have another go before I get too old.”

Appo was mentored by the late three-time Stradbroke-winning jockey Darby McCarthy – a Queensland Racing Hall of Fame member – in his early days in the saddle.

He is confident with his weight, walking around at 60 kilograms at the moment, while being optimistic he can get down to 55 kilograms when he does hopefully return on race day.

The returning hoop was as heavy as 68 kilograms in recent times.

“Once I start riding work, it will burn off me again,” he said about his weight. 

“I have got the weight down from 68 kilograms without knocking myself about.”

Appo has already struck up a partnership with Chinchilla trainer Leonard Mawn, who is keen to bring him on-board as a stable rider.

Mawn prepares Hanover Square, the Battle of the Bush Final winner from 2019.

The recently completed 2021-22 campaign was the strongest Mawn has enjoyed in around a decade, preparing 14 winners.

Appo is hopeful of being able to be back riding work within a month.

“That was the main reason I wanted to make a comeback, being local I wanted to help him out and give him a hand,” he said.

“He has not got anyone out here riding for him so we may be able to help each other out here.

“He has come on board and he is keen to get me going.

“I have attended the races around here in recent weeks and I think I can still ride if I had a licence.”