Chloe Lowe making waves in the bush

By Jordan Gerrans

Chloe Lowe hails from Beaudesert and calls Toowoomba home these days but it is Mount Isa’s Buchanan Park where she arguably feels most comfortable.

The 22-year-old apprentice hoop has been a revelation on the country circuit in the Sunshine State since making her race riding debut back in late March.

She has flown through her four and three kilogram claim and currently leads the country jockey’s premiership for the 2024-25 campaign with 26 winners.

Over the last week she has snuck ahead of seasoned riders such as Lacey Morrison, Justin Stanley and Nathan Day on the premiership leaderboard.

Since late March, Lowe has quickly racked up 43 winners.

There is one track that has contributed the most to that tally – Buchanan Park in the North West.

She has collected 11 winners at Mount Isa’s premier track.

To put that into context, Lowe’s second most prolific track when it comes to winners is just three, which she has completed at five different clubs.

It has been a homecoming of sorts for Lowe to the North West as she spent a year living in the regional city in her primary school days.

“It definitely feels familiar, it feels like a second home,” the emerging youngster said.

“As I grew up there, it is nice to go back and ride a few winners there.

“Mount Isa has been a crucial part of my career as I outrode my four and three kilogram claim there.

“It is like a big family environment at Mount Isa and they all took me under their wing as soon as I went out there.”

Lowe’s father worked in the mines for a year or so at Mount Isa with her family relocating for the period time.

The up-and-coming hoop has been supported by the Ballard, Morris and Parry stables whenever she has visited the North West.

She also made a splash at her first attempt at the popular Birdsville circuit, taking out the leading riders prize for the 2024 carnival.

As Racing Queensland Industry Educator Jeff McKay details, Lowe almost gave up on her dreams of becoming a jockey a few years ago.

The smiling youngster can't help but feel a distinct sense of pride with how far she has come.

Lowe is in her second stint as an apprentice rider, starting out with Matthew Dunn about three years ago before having another crack with Ryan Tyrell in more recent times.

The riding was never an issue.

It was just that her weight was not at the level required to be an apprentice hoop.

Not long ago she was around 67kg.

On Saturday afternoon at Gympie – where she rode a winner - Lowe had her listed available riding weight at 55kg.

“She is a terrific little rider and lovely little person,” McKay said.

“She was lost to us for a while, she finished her track work riding course and started as an apprentice and we did not think she was going to come back.

“But, I saw her riding track work out at a farm one day and she thought she was going to be too big to be a jockey.

“We talked her into coming back and she is making every post a winner now.”

After restarting her apprenticeship with Tyrell, Lowe has in recent weeks moved to the Darling Downs to work for respected horseman Pat Webster.

They have quickly become a lethal team – registering 14 victories together.

The Webster barn are just outside the top 10 on the state trainers premiership for the 2024-25 term.

The move has been a positive one for Lowe.

“It has been a massive change, coming from Beaudesert which is a small town,” she said.

“To come here and have 30 to 40 horses in work at a big track like Toowoomba. It is a really good place to work, I love it here and I am glad I made the decision to move up here.

“Pat is really good and he really cares about my career and my riding. Pat wants me to be the best I can be so I am glad that I made it here to his stable.”

Lowe often rides track work in the morning with senior riders such as Les Tilley and Hannah Richardson, which she says has been key to her development as they often give her tips and guidance.

To lead the country premiership with almost half the season already completed, Lowe never dreamed of starting her riding career with such a bang.

She has a seven victory lead in the country premiership when it comes to the apprentice title.

“I am very pleased, I was not expecting to go as good as I am,” she said.

“I am grateful that I am going well. I did not really have expectations when I started riding.

“I just wanted to be the best I can be and keep improving as well as riding winners for the people who support me and put me on, that is all I really wanted to do.

“For me, it is about slowing it all down in my head as in a race everything is so quick. I aim to slow it down, think about my decisions about what is happening in front of me to make the right calls.”

Lowe was destined to be in racing from a young age with her family owning and running KBL Thoroughbreds at Beaudesert, which focuses on preparing babies for upcoming sales.

“With Chloe, she is a perfect jockey build and can ride,” McKay said.

“She has a terrific background with horses and she is a lovely young person that presents well with the owners.

“I think with her, the sky is the limit.”

Retired champion jockey Robbie Fradd has also worked closely with Lowe in recent months.

The 59-year-old multiple Group 1-winning hoop works for Racing Queensland as a Casual Education Support Officer.

The Webster stable will be prominent in town this Saturday with two runners accepted for the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede Finals.

Lowe has won twice on Coat Of Arms – who will contest the Stampede – and three times aboard CCC Final runner Skyforger.

She won the qualifying races for both gallopers and says she will take pride in watching them go around on the big stage this Saturday.