Former Victorian jockey makes race riding return in the Sunshine State

By Jordan Gerrans

Former Victorian hoop Alexandra Bryan enjoyed every second of her low-key return to race riding at Caloundra on Sunday afternoon.

The 25-year-old had been off the scene since the first month of this year and in her time away from race riding relocated to the Sunshine State.

After completing her apprenticeship under trainer Vincent Nolen, the lightweight rider was last in the form guide at The Valley on a city Saturday in late January.

Looking back on the bulk of 2023, Bryan says she just needed to take a step back from race riding and decided to follow partner Mitch Goring north after he began his jockey apprenticeship on the Sunshine Coast.

“I just took a good break and got my head right,” Bryan said.

Bryan partnered Twosey for the Adam and Dallas Simpson barn in the last race from Caloundra on Sunday in her return to race day opportunities.

Despite starting as a $151 outsider in the market, Twosey ran well under the urgings of Bryan as the mare finished just over a couple of lengths behind the winner.

“I was really happy with it,” she said of the return ride.

“Twosey was first-up and was always going to be underdone. But, I was super happy with how she went.”

Bryan has ridden metropolitan winners in Victoria and South Australia before she took an extended break through 2023.

She enjoyed her strongest period of her career in the 2020-21 campaign when she rode 28 winners for the season.

While Bryan thoroughly enjoyed being back in the saddle, she is going to take it easy over the coming months and then make a decision around if she is going to return to the races on a consistent basis.

“I was unsure about it all but as soon as I rode, I enjoyed every minute of it,” Bryan said.

“Being at the races on Sunday, I thought ‘god, I should have done this months ago’.

“I am just going to play it by ear, take rides if I get them and just in stay in a good head space and keep going from there.

“I do not want to jump straight back into and do it full-time just yet. I will take it as they come and if I keep enjoying it and everything goes well, I may go back to full-time.”

Bryan’s partner Goring is indentured to the Simpson stable.

After making his debut as a jockey earlier this year, Goring has taken a break from the races since early July to get his weight under control.

The 20-year-old Goring has been back riding work in recent weeks.

When Bryan was away from race riding, she gained employment as a support worker through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

She would head to work after riding in the morning.

It is an experience she has enjoyed and has provided her with a potential career option following her time as a jockey.

“It has been good to get into a rhythm and routine,” she said.

“It was really hard to figure out what I wanted to do when I was not racing, as it was all I have ever done.

“I was unsure what I was meant to do. It is always there and they are great people I work for and with.”