Mother and daughter team set for memorable occasion

By Jordan Gerrans

Rockhampton’s Maree Skillington has been filled with pride as she has watched her daughter Nikki Olzard win a race in the city as well as be crowned the leading country apprentice rider in the state over the last year.

In a red-letter day for the Central Queensland racing family – they will be competing at the races together for the first time in their lives at Callaghan Park on Saturday afternoon.

While Skillington couldn’t be more proud of her teenage daughter's achievements so far, it will go to another level when she legs Olzard aboard Motamayiz in the opener from ‘Rocky’ on Saturday.

“It will be a special moment,” Skillington said.

“It is our show together now.”

Skillington will have her first starter in a race since way back in April of 2002 when Motamayiz contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1400 metres.

The CQ horsewoman trained four winners between 1999 and 2002 before stepping away from training.

After watching her daughter be so prolific on the country circuit over the last couple of years, it reignited Skillington’s fire to be involved in the industry on a day-to-day basis.

After debuting in May of 2023, Olzard has quickly racked up more than 80 winners, headlined by 45 last campaign, while she is riding at a better strike-rate this season compared to the 2023-24 term.

She claimed the country apprentice premiership last season as well as saluting in the Country Stampede Final aboard Lily Allez for her former master Raymond Williams.

The 19-year-old Olzard was overcome with emotion in the Doomben mounting yard after winning the feature race against a crop of seasoned city and provincial-level jockeys.

“It is very special,” Olzard said.

“I have only been riding for a year-and-a-half and to be able to win a big race like this – it is unbelievable.”

Williams’ late wife Tracey pushed for Olzard to keep the ride on Lily Allez in the showpiece bush feature instead of opting to book a big-name city hoop.

The entire family has been involved with horses for generations but Skillington says Olzard’s riding deeds helped push her towards returning to training.

The lightweight youngster has recently relocated back from Emerald to Rockhampton.

“We had these two horses so I said I may as well train them at home seeing as I have a rider now,” Skillington said.

“I got my stablehand licence back when Nikki started riding a few years ago so I could be around the stables and help.

“Nikki has won two Cup races on Motamayiz so that was the original reason why we bought him.

“We have had him 12 months now so he is a potential Cups horse for her to ride. She has won on I Say Boom before, as well.”

While Skillington has not trained for a couple of decades, she still has been hands-on with gallopers.

The 50-year-old spent some time working for Natalie McCall at Caloundra as well as having performance and off-the-track horses at her Gracemere property.

In Skillington’s return to training at Rockhampton Jockey Club on Saturday, she starts Motamayiz with Olzard in the saddle while later in the program in the Class 4 Handicap over 1200 metres she has I Say Boom with Chris McIver taking the steer.

Olzard will ride Clinton Taylor’s Diddley Squat in the Class 4 Handicap.

“I am not expecting much from both horses as they are just coming back from a spell and both races are a little short for them,” Skillington said of her two runners.

“We are looking to get a few more horses as we are not sure if Motamayiz still wants to be a racehorse.

“This will most likely be his last campaign so we are looking around for any more horses that we may be able to take on that is suitable for us.”

Teenage apprentice Olzard could be in for a big afternoon at Rockhampton on Saturday with a number of smart rides for local trainer Sileas Green.