Central Queensland product set for debut race day rides

By Jordan Gerrans

After moving far away from home as a teenager to pursue her dreams of becoming a jockey, it will all feel worth it for Savannah McCann this Saturday afternoon.

McCann hails from Moranbah in Central Queensland and has called Brisbane home for the last couple of years as she kick started her journey as an apprentice rider.

She heads to Bundaberg on Saturday afternoon for her first race rides and will boast a strong book of engagements in her maiden day in the saddle.

The 18-year-old thought relocating to the city would be the best thing for her career as a jockey.

“It was about getting more opportunities and having a crack at getting something more reliable down here,” McCann said on Wednesday morning.

“I wanted to learn the right way down here in the city.

“I wanted to learn in the bigger and better environments.

“I figured the best thing for my career was being around the best jockeys, that would teach me a lot more than trying to work my way into that after a few years in.”

McCann’s father owned race horses when she was a youngster but she was not regularly exposed to the racing industry.

She competed in barrel racing in her younger days, which pushed her towards thinking a career as a professional jockey would be a viable option.

McCann first lobbed at Mick Lakey’s barn at Deagon before she eventually transferred her apprenticeship to be under the guidance of former champion jockey Chris Munce at Eagle Farm.

“Mick taught me everything and then Chris perfected it,” she reflects.

“Chris offered me something and Mick straight away said that it would be a good opportunity if I went into town.”

Munce, who won the Golden Slipper, Cox Plate and Caulfield and Melbourne Cups as a rider before turning his hand to training, has pushed McCann to be a better hoop since she arrived at his stable in Brisbane.

While Munce keeps a close eye on his apprentice’s progress, the emerging hoop says it will only help her growth in the long run.

“Chris can be a hard person but at the end of the day he does have your best interests at heart,” McCann said.

“He nails me until I get it right and when I do, then he will give me praise.

“He will sit down with me and go through my rides and pick at me about what I need to fix.

“He helps me fix everything to perfect everything the way an apprentice needs to.

“I would rather that instead of being wrapped into cotton wool as can happen at times.

“At least now I know that if I am doing something wrong, he will pick me up on it.”

With acceptances not yet finalised until just before midday on Thursday, the debut rider already has four bookings sorted for her first day in the saddle at the races.

She contacted the majority of trainers with horses nominated for the Bundaberg meeting and was delighted with the responses she received from locals.

Conair (for trainer Kay O'Neill), Mount Horeb (Leigh Wanless), Jamesatelli (Gary Clem) and Chilli Palmer (Wanless) are set to be McCann’s first race rides this Saturday.

After a two year wait to get to her official maiden rides, McCann says she is filled with excitement to get to the track on Saturday.

She believes Jamesatelli – who will contest a Benchmark 60 Handicap over the speedy 850 metres - is her best winning chance.

Prepared on track at Bundaberg, Jamesatelli is resuming for the first time this year and did not finish outside the top two in his last four trips to the races in his most recent preparation.

“Jamesatelli has had 12 starts for two wins, five seconds and two thirds – the horse is always up there,” McCann said.

“He has run second a number of times recently, including places like Nanango, so that form is probably equivalent or maybe even a bit better for a race like this.

“Hopefully he can go well for me.

“When I was doing the form, I was pleasantly surprised by his form and thought he would be a nice one for me.”

Five non-TAB races will be held on the sand at Bundaberg Race Club on Saturday.