Poignant occasion for Clifton local

By Jordan Gerrans

Samantha Pointon was the toast of the small Darling Downs town of Clifton on Saturday afternoon without even having a ride in the local Cup.

The apprentice hoop hails from the small town and while it was not planned to play out this way, she had her first-ever race rides as a jockey at the Clifton Jockey Club.

With upwards of 30 friends and family in attendance at the races on Saturday, the 23-year-old remarked that it was a special experience to have so many people screaming for her.

“It was always a dream to be able to do that,” the apprentice hoop said of riding in her ‘hometown’ on her first day at the races. 

“It just fell into place.

“I pushed pretty hard to get my licence approved in time for Clifton and it worked out well.”

As of Thursday morning of last week, Pointon’s licence was not officially approved by stewards ahead of Clifton’s one race day of the year as she had been pushing for it to be ticked off in the days prior.

Approaching midday on Thursday and with acceptance time looming, it finally came through and she was quickly snapped up for two rides in her maiden day at the races.

She partnered Mr Evans for Kevin Sims in the Benchmark 45 Handicap over 1000 metres where she finished fifth before running into second aboard Suniki for Jayden Sims in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1100 metres.

The lightweight hoop has been halted in her pursuit of her race riding dream a couple of times in recent years due to serious injuries.

Pointon first started her riding journey under Toowoomba horseman Jayden Sims.

She started her traineeship under Jayden before starting her apprenticeship with trainer Tom Dougall.

After riding work for Dougall and other Clifford Park trainers of a morning, the apprentice hoop will head out to Jayden’s property to ride a few more.

“Jayden has been amazing and such a good teacher so it was perfect that I got to do that,” Pointon said.

“They got Suniki a few years ago because she was supposed to be my first jump-out ride but I had an injury just before I was supposed to have the jump-out on her.

“She was going to be my first race ride as well but Kev’s one ended up in the race beforehand.”

Jayden also rides work for Dougall as well as preparing his own team.

Now based in Toowoomba, Pointon’s licence approval was rushed through last week after she has endured a stop-start last couple of years in the saddle.

She has suffered a couple of injury setbacks which had slowed her pursuit of her first day at the races.

While she was desperate to get to the races, she says her time on the sidelines were a positive experience for her mental maturity and made Saturday’s occasion even more significant.

“There is not much that is going to stop me,” Pointon said.

“I felt strong and confident and the thing about the injuries, they set me back in one way but they gave me extra time to sit back and watch things, listen and take things in.

“I came in with a bit more experience and a better head space than I probably would have if I did not have those injuries.

“It made it a hell of a lot more special to be race riding.”

She rode at the featherweight of 51kg on Saturday.

As well as riding work for Dougall, Pointon also is busy helping out the Paul Wallace, Kevin Kemp and Joshua King stables in the morning at Clifford Park.

“I have been very lucky as Tommy is so relaxed and calm,” Pointon said.

“He does not put any pressure on me and has been really patient with being able to help me learn and give me opportunities.

“We do track gallops all the time that are aimed to help me ride in races and be comfortable riding right behind something.”