Jockey on a Missen for happiness in the Central West

By Jordan Gerrans​

Jason Missen is a jockey in an excellent head space as the Central West racing year starts to build momentum.

The 47-year-old has been a ‘fly-in fly-out’ or ‘drive-in drive-out’ rider to regional Queensland in recent years but over the last month Missen has relocated to Barcaldine.

The Central West of the Sunshine State is always in need of more track work riders and race day jockeys so Missen’s decision is one that the local industry is salivating over.

The multiple regional Cup-winning hoop has linked up with the Toni Schofield barn at Barcaldine and is riding work six days a week for the stable.

He has hit the ground running in his new venture, pocketing winners at Charleville and Barcaldine already this month, with a big book of engagements for Longreach’s first meeting of the new year this Saturday.

Missen always loved his time in the area where he flew and drove out to ride and it is no different now that he calls the region home.

“I had good contacts and a good history with the Schofield stable and that was the first phone call I made,” Missen said.

“I was surprised they did not have rider and had an opening, just with the amount of winners they had produced over the last few years, I thought they would have heaps of jockeys keen to ride for them.

“Now that I am based out here, I am really happy about it. I am really enjoying the lifestyle.”

Missen follows the lead of Robert Faehr (Longreach) and Jason Hoopert (Mount Isa) who have relocated to the western areas of Queensland in recent years to base themselves after riding closer to the South East previously.

Missen did not ride for the majority of 2023 and opted to take a step back from the industry.

The Victorian product has taken breaks from riding during his decades in the game as he has travelled across Australia and overseas in the saddle.

He has lived in Queensland for a tick over a decade.

He has not missed a beat, riding three winners from his first eight engagements back this year.

“A bit of success on race day always helps you get out of bed in the morning and do the work,” he said of the western move.

While Missen is smiling to be back riding winners, he is thriving on life in the bush.

As well as riding work and on Saturdays, he is doing a couple of days a week work to help pay the bills as well as often getting around the golf course.

“I enjoy the people out here as well, all the trainers and owners have always been good to me,” the jockey said.

“The hospitality you get at each different club is great out here.

“We obviously have Barcaldine, Longreach and Blackall that run good professional race days with their numbers each year but it is the once a year clubs that you also go to that also stand out.

“The once a year club, most of the people are volunteers and they always really look after the jockeys and check up on us to make sure we have everything we need around food and drink and the rest.

“You just get looked after well out here and there is a lot of upside to it all in my opinion. Just the driving to and from the races I enjoy as well, looking at the wildlife and scenery, it is great out here.

“I would have made the move a long time ago if circumstances were different.”

Missen has long held a connection to the Schofield stable after he rode for her father David Hall when he was previously training in Central Queensland at Rockhampton.

Missen has three engagements for Schofield on Saturday as well as others for Raymond Frazer and Shane Iverson on the dirt at Longreach. 

Schofield is in the top five on the country training premiership this campaign.

The hoop believes he could have a strong day across the six event non-TAB program. 

“I am actually really looking forward to Saturday,” Missen said.

“I have looked at all their form and none of them stand out to me because they are all a chance.

“The better barrier ones will make it easier but I am really happy with my book of rides for Saturday. I will go out on every one of them thinking I am a chance.”

Missen enjoyed a sparkling 2021 season in the Central and North West, claiming the Longreach and Cloncurry Cups, as well as producing the most winners in a campaign for more than a decade.

The experienced rider has city victories on his resume from Victoria and South Australia from earlier in his career.