Zoe hunting for more winners in Sunshine State homecoming

By Jordan Gerrans

As a ‘mature-aged’ apprentice hoop with a degree in psychology already under her belt, Zoe Hunt is laser focused on her goals in the saddle.

At 28 years of age, Hunt is hardly a ‘veteran’ when it comes to the riding ranks in the Sunshine State.

But, as the majority of apprentices start in their teenage years, she is unique from that perspective after having her maiden race ride in 2023. 

And, after a lengthy period spent in the work force and studying her psychology degree at Griffith University, the natural lightweight comes into race riding understanding exactly where she is at with her goals.

After a recent move back to her home state of Queensland, Hunt piloted her first winner in her new venture at Central Warrego Race Club on Saturday.

The now Toowoomba-based hoop is in no rush to climb the ladder to the provincial and metropolitan level but believes coming into race riding later in her life is most certainly now helping her on the track.

“As an older apprentice, I know exactly what I want to do now,” the hoop said.

“I am not in two minds about where I am at any more, I am very determined to do as much as I can in this industry while I can. I’m a bit older, so I don’t have that time to mess around.

“I am very focussed on doing well and being older certainly helps that as you have that maturity and life experience.

“In terms of my race riding, I feel like I know myself quite well so I feel like I am in control of my emotions when I ride and can control my angst and things of that nature.

“I am trying to be the best that I can be and I need to be receptive to how people see me ride and what they think because I am always trying to better myself.”

Hunt grew up in Warwick but it was in New South Wales where she commenced her apprenticeship.

She was most recently indentured to Clint Lundholm at Dubbo where she collected the first 16 winners of her career in the surrounding areas.

Hunt has transferred her apprenticeship to respected horseman Pat Webster and headed to Charleville for a full book of engagements on Saturday.

The determined jockey was successful in the opening event aboard Seeburg for Cunnamulla trainer Monique Gavin before finishing second in the final four races on the program.

It was a more than positive first encounter with riding on the non-TAB circuit in Queensland.  

“It was great and really nice to get the ball rolling early,” she said.

“To come straight up and get a full book at my first meeting was really great for the trainers to be super supportive.

“It does a lot for my confidence so hopefully things can keep rolling from here.

“I was able to sit outside the leader on Saturday on Seeburg and once we came around the bend, he kicked away and just kept going and nothing made ground on him.

“The race panned out very nicely and quite easily for me.”

Hunt rode at the Clifford Park trials on Monday morning and is settling into life nicely under the stewardship of Webster since the move.

The apprentice hoop had not met Webster before shifting north and was pointed in the direction of the popular conditioner by fellow apprentice rider Olivia Webb.

Hunt noted Webster’s ongoing relationship with his former apprentice Les Tilley as a reason why she believes his stable is a great place for her to continue to learn her trade.

“He has been so good to me, taking me on, he has been super,” Hunt said of Webster.

“I am very grateful to be up here and hopefully we can have a bit of success together.

“I think it really speaks volumes about Pat that his apprentice from years ago, Les, he still rides for him now – you can’t buy that kind of loyalty. Pat is a good person and it shows.

“My best friend Olivia got me on to Pat as I was not firing as well as I would have liked down in NSW.

“I thought a move to Queensland might be good for me. I feel like I am quite receptive to criticism and feedback.”

Hunt grew up around horses and was involved in eventing and show jumping as a youngster and competed around Australia.

After completing her psychology studies, she decided she needed a change of scenery and ended up riding work in Sydney for trainers such as Ciaron Maher, Annabel Neasham and Richard Litt, among others.

That led to her an apprenticeship in the barn of Gregory Hickman at Warwick Farm before she eventually transferred to Lundholm in the bush.

Growing up on the Eastern Downs at Warwick, Hunt is enjoying her homecoming of sorts at Toowoomba.

As a young person, she dreamed of being involved with the horses for a day job.

After years spent studying and in the corporate world, Hunt is loving where she is at now.

“I thought that maybe later I would go back to my degree but where I am at now, I am more than happy to stay where I am as a jockey,” she said.

After grabbing her first Queensland winner at Charleville on Saturday, Hunt heads to the Lockyer Valley Turf Club on Tuesday for two rides and she says the country meetings are key in her development as a jockey.

She has been booked to ride Kerry Miss for Darren Bell and Jayden Sims' Suniki. 

“The horse goes well on the track so I am hopeful that the track talent might repeat itself,” she said of Suniki.

“This horse does like an apprentice and a claim as well, so hopefully the barrier is not too sticky.

“I am happy to be riding at country meetings and I am in no rush to get to the provincials. It has taken me a long time and I am still trying to find my style as a rider.

“I’m very focused on being fit and my strongest and the best rider I can be.”