By Jordan Gerrans
A ‘nice and quiet trial’ aboard veteran gelding Class Of Royalty has rookie apprentice hoop McKenzie Apel feeling confident ahead of her debut race ride.
The 21-year-old Apel is one of a glut of emerging hoops that have recently kicked-off their riding careers in Central Queensland.
Apel will take one ride in her first day at the races, booked for Peter Fleming’s Class Of Royalty.
The chestnut gelding is a newcomer to the Central Queensland area after previously doing his racing with Gold Coast trainer John Zielke around the South East.
The 54kg Apel was aboard the six-time career winner in a trial at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park late last month ahead of his first race day appearance since January of this year.
Class Of Royalty ran second in the 900 metre trial, being beaten less than half a length.
The newcomer to the riding ranks and Class Of Royalty now tackle a Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1200 metres at Mackay on Thursday afternoon.
Apel – who hails from Gin Gin just outside of Bundaberg – is excited to have the Fleming-trained gelding as her maiden race ride.
“He had good form around the Ipswich way,” she said.
“We had a quiet trial the other day to get a feel for him, so that is nice going into my first race knowing the horse.
“That will help a little bit.
“He has drawn wide but hopefully we can get him up there and see what he can do.”
Apel has slowly built up her required trials this year, riding locally at Rockhampton and Yeppoon, as well as making a couple of trips to Brisbane to gain more experience.
Top Brisbane trainers such as Tony Gollan and Barry Lockwood gave Apel trial opportunities as she built towards her maiden race rides.
The Rockhampton-based jockey works for Callaghan Park trainer Ricky Vale.
Apel and her boss opted to take it slow through the trial process and not hurry towards heading to the races for the first time.
Apel was set to have rides for Vale – on top of Class Of Royalty on Thursday – but the trainer opted not to start the horses the apprentice hoop was going to partner.
“I am really keen for it, it has been a long process as we have taken it fairly steady,” she said.
“That was just not rush anything to make sure I am prepared for my first race rides. I am really looking forward to it.
“We never had any intention of smashing through the trials and getting to the races, it was always going to be slow and steady.”
Many new riders need to head to the non-TAB circuit for their first race ride but Apel will debut at a nationally broadcast meeting.