Spotlight On: Tahlia Fenlon

By Brodie Nickson

Tahlia Fenlon has been surrounded by horses her entire life and the apprentice jockey has started to build momentum since moving to Brisbane.

The 21-year-old joined Eagle Farm trainer Chris Munce’s team last year after starting her career in Central Queensland.

The Rockhampton local is one of a close-knit group of friends and family who have started their own respective journeys in the racing industry.

Fenlon and her brother, Rohan, grew up closely alongside current Rockhampton trainers Nick Walsh and Thomas Smith.

“We were all in pony club from a young age and often went away for state titles,” Fenlon said.

“We used to always go to Tom’s (Smith) grandad, Brian ‘Boory’ Barnes, and go riding in the afternoons.

“We would pick a horse and play tiggy and stuff on them on the flats. It was awesome.”

Fenlon eventually began riding work and became apprentice to local trainer Fred Smith, Tom’s father.

“We all ended up riding trackwork together and it carried on from there.”

Following a successful period, Fenlon decided to chance her hand in May last year and move to Brisbane.

It was a tough initiation for the 20-year-old as she battled illness and issues back home.

“I had a bit of a rocky start when I moved down here,” Fenlon said.

“My Pop got sick back at home and sadly ended up passing away.

“I also got a bit sick too and it all ended up being a bit tough for a while.”

Fenlon eventually began to build some momentum back in Brisbane and hit the ground running over the summer.

“I have settled in now and everything seems to be falling in place,” she said.

“Getting that support from Chris in particular has been great and (riding in Brisbane) is definitely going a bit more smoothly now.

“When I first moved down here, my first goal was just to get my metropolitan licence and ride a winner in town.

“I have had a few rides now and a few winners, which has been a big achievement for me.”

Fenlon speaks extremely highly of her boss, former star jockey-turned-trainer Munce.

She is especially grateful to the immense support and mentorship she is receiving.

“Chris and his foreman, Al, have both ridden before and they give their feedback. They go through the form and are a huge help to me,” Fenlon said.

Fenlon combined with Munce to provide her first metropolitan winner at the Sunshine Coast in January, scoring aboard Heroic Miss.

She had booted the four-year-old mare home to victory on two previous occasions before recording her first metropolitan triumph at lucky start three.

Fenlon took a sit behind the speed before swinging back towards the inside and going for home, prevailing by half-a-length over race-favourite Viminele.

“She (Heroic Miss) has been one of my standout horses and to win on her for my boss Chris Munce was special,” Fenlon said.

In addition to her first metropolitan winner, Fenlon also describes her Mackay Cup victory aboard Savvy Legend as the other main career highlight.

“He [Savvy Legend] is a very special horse to me because he was actually one of my first winners when I moved down to Brisbane,” Fenlon said.

“I won at Ipswich on him for Lachie (Manzelmann) and didn’t ride him again until the Mackay Cup.”

Transferred from Lachie to his father John’s stable for the North Queensland feature, all eyes were on hot race-favourite Namazu as the Ricky Vale-trained beast looked to emulate his purple patch of form 12 months prior in his bid to win back-to-back Mackay Cups.

“Our pre-race instructions were actually pretty funny. John said, ‘I don’t think we can beat Namazu but we certainly can run second or third’,” Fenlon said.

“I got to the top of the straight thinking ‘well that’s good, at least I’ll be able to run second’ before he really charged late.

“About halfway down the straight I thought I was a chance. He kept picking up under me and nailed him on the line.

“I was just so grateful to do it for John as he has been one of my biggest supporters up north, so it was great to reward his support.”

Fenlon credits multiple people for her success and especially paid homage to her manager Adrian Gray.

Gray represents a couple of Brisbane’s leading young talents, including gun apprentices Fenlon and Bailey Wheeler.

“When I received the call to take her on, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Gray said.

“Tahlia has all the makings of a true professional. She lives and breathes racing, comes from a racing family, is a natural lightweight and is willing to sacrifice everything to make it, as demonstrated by her move to Munce.”

A clear testament to Fenlon was champion trainer Chris Waller wasted no time in turning to the 3kg claimer.

“Chris Waller quickly utilised her services after her move to Brisbane,” Gray said.

“She has what it takes to make it. He is booking her early and regularly, such has been her level of riding and improvement.

“Her boss Chris Munce utilising her services in non-claiming races is a further indicator of this.”

A very humble person, it is hard to squeeze too much out of Fenlon about what potentially is to come.

The quiet apprentice simply states she would love to ‘keep trying to ride winners’.

After more pushing, Fenlon admits she ‘would love to outride her provincial claim and outride her 3kg claim in town’.

“Being a local, the Rockhampton Cup is high on my list to win,” she said.

“And so is The Archer now too since its inception.”