Julie bustling towards the races for the first time

By Jordan Gerrans

Julie Busuttin grew up admiring respected jockey Tegan Harrison and the young hoop will now debut just around the corner from where her idol calls home.

Still in her teenage years while attending high school, Julie will have her maiden race day rides this Saturday at Beaudesert and will also take one engagement at Kilcoy on Sunday.

The Busuttin surname is a famous one in the racing industry and Julie will be legged-up by her father Patrick on Saturday as she rides two of his gallopers.

Julie is indentured to Patrick at Deagon.

The lightweight youngster will debut on Whatta Whitt in the Maiden Plate over 1100 metres before taking the ride of Gold Prince later in the program in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate over 1300 metres.

Harrison – a Group level-winning Queensland rider – has long been a jockey Julie has watched closely. 

“When I was younger I always looked up to Tegan Harrison, she was always my idol as a kid,” Julie said.

“It is exciting to think that I might be able to ride in races with her one day.”

The 35-year-old Harrison has been on the sidelines over the last year with injury and has not ridden in a race since early July of 2023. 

Harrison resides in the Gold Coast area.

Julie trialled Gold Prince earlier this month at Doomben ahead of the first-up event while Whatta Whitt was last at the races in a city maiden late last year.

Patrick says his smiling daughter has been mentored by a pair of Group 1-winning hoops leading towards her maiden rides.

“It is great that she has mentors like Shane Scriven and Robbie Fradd,” Patrick said.

“It is very supportive and it is great to have those people teaching the kids.”

Patrick trained his first winner in over a year earlier this month at the Sunshine Coast when Likeabeel got the money in a Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Julie has tuned up for her maiden race day rides by competing in trials at Deagon, Beaudesert and Doomben over the last month.

“It is just like riding in a race pretty much,” she said.

“It is a lot more competitive and professional than track work and gallops.

“I loved it and enjoyed being out there. I was comfortable in the environment.”

After the two at Beaudesert on Saturday, the rookie rider backs up on Sunday aboard Mighty Judd for Deagon trainer Sharryn Livingstone at Kilcoy in a Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Julie won a trial on Mighty Judd at Deagon just over a fortnight ago. 

On her path to her first race rides, Julie first completed her Certificate III in Racing (trackwork rider) and has now progressed to her part-time Certificate IV in Racing (jockey).

Julie is now in Year 12 and will continue with her Certificate IV after completing Year 12 and her Queensland Certificate of Education.

It is rare to see a jockey begin race riding while still studying at school and Julie follows in the footsteps of champion hoop James Orman who did the same. 

Julie commenced her school-based traineeship in 2022 in Year 10 while a student at Sandgate High School.

Being a school-based trainee, Julie and others in similar programs work toward a nationally recognized qualification and study toward their Queensland Certificate of Education at the same time.

The student is released from school to work 7.5 hours per week as well as attending school for the rest of the week.

The student will participate in regular theory training delivered by Racing Queensland.