Mel Campbell's family inspiration for maiden race rides

By Jordan Gerrans

Debutant apprentice rider Mel Campbell will have her two biggest fans in the back of her mind when she travels to the Central West of Queensland for her maiden rides this Saturday.

The Gold Coast-based hoop heads to the sand of Longreach for three rides for trainers Shane Iverson and David Rewald.

Campbell is a mother of two young daughters.

She would love to have them there on race day to experience her first occasion as a professional jockey but they won’t be able to be on hand this Saturday.

Campbell’s daughters Hope, who is four, and Oakley, two, are already keen on equine athletes.

“My youngest lives in Victoria and likes horses but I don’t think she knows what is exactly happening at the moment being so young,” the emerging jockey said.

“My eldest is nearly five and she is horse obsessed, she is always asking me about when I am riding or racing.

“She wanted to come out to Longreach to watch me but she has school and that is a priority at the moment.”

The 24-year-old Campbell is indentured to Kelly and Gary Doughty on the Gold Coast.

She has been with the Doughtys for the last six months after previously riding work at Deagon in Brisbane’s north as well as on the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Gary was a multiple Group 1-winning jockey in his riding days before he eventually turned his hand to training.

The 65-year-old Gary described Campbell as ‘eager to learn’ and says that after completing her required trials, she is at the stage where she just needs to learn on the job with her race riding from here.

“She goes good and has a nice seat on a horse,” Doughty said.

“She just needs to put it all together on race day now as she is doing everything right.

“She just needs a bit of confidence built up with a few winners under her belt.

“She will be off and flying once that happens. She listens and she tries very hard. I have showed her a few little things she should be doing and she has adapted to it well.”

As Campbell needs to juggle all the different commitments that come with being a young mother and an apprentice jockey, she says she needs to work in a specific environment to achieve the best outcomes.

After riding work at a few locations in recent years, she feels the Doughtys' barn is the perfect place for her to launch her riding career.

“It has been a really big journey trying to find somewhere where I am happy and able to fit in,” the apprentice said.

“Having two young daughters as well, having to sacrifice a lot with them for me to pursue this. I just had to find the right place where I was happy and settled in a good environment.

“I have found that at the Gold Coast, Kelly and Gary were happy to take me under their wing and with Gary a jockey himself.

“Getting pointers and tips from Gary, it has really helped me with the way I ride. Gary was a very good rider.”

Gary won several Group 1s during his career including the 1986 Caulfield Guineas at 250-1 aboard Abaridy.

After a serious race fall ended Gary’s career, he still rides some work around Aquis Park and will often do so in pairs with Campbell.

“We have ridden work together a fair bit, her and I,” Gary said.

“She has nice hands on a horse and a good seat. Her balance is in the right place.”

The rookie rider will have a riding weight of 55.5kg in the early stages of her career.

“I am excited and I am just trying to keep myself calm,” Campbell said.

“As I am packing my race day bag now, everything is becoming a bit more surreal.”

She will take three bookings in her first day in the saddle: Karara Lad for trainer Shane Iverson as well as Jet Pack and Heyington Station for Blackall’s David Rewald.

Karara Lad will front up in the Benchmark 50 Handicap over 1000 metres.

The Charleville-prepared gelding has placed in four of his last five race day efforts and Campbell feels Iverson’s runner is her best chance to breakthrough on debut.

“I have looked up all their form and tried to watch as many replays as I can find on them,” Campbell said.

“I think all three should go alright. I reckon Karara Lad is the best of my three.”