Apprentice Sariah Champkin keen to make her mark in industry

By Jordan Gerrans

Until she actually stepped on the plane to fly to Emerald last weekend, apprentice rider Sariah Champkin did not completely appreciate her journey to get to her first day as a professional jockey.

From starting out in eventing, to riding track work on the Gold Coast before eventually making her way to the Darling Downs to begin her apprenticeship, Champkin had many moments where she thought she wouldn't make it.

The 20-year-old certainly did “make it” at Pioneer Park in Emerald last Saturday, piloting three gallopers on her first day at the races, before heading to Mitchell this coming weekend for a full book of engagements for Roma trainer Wayne Baker.

“It was really, really tough and there was more times there when you think you are not going to make it as a jockey, when you are seeing everybody else excelling and you feel like you are not going anywhere,” Champkin said.

“Once I actually got on the plane to Emerald, I realised that I did do it – I made it as a jockey.

“It is hard to make it this far and I suppose they make it hard for a reason.

“It is all worth it now.”

Completing her apprenticeship with Tony and Maddysen Sears at Clifford Park, Champkin was first introduced to racing on the Gold Coast when learning as a track work rider with another co-training family partnership, the Edmonds’ at Aquis Park.

Co-trainer Tony has been impressed with Champkin’s progression since she moved to Toowoomba to chase her riding dream.

“She rides well, she is only just starting out with a long way ahead of her but she is keen to learn and we will keep sending her out to the bush to see how she goes,” Tony said.

“She has had a lot of trials and jump outs; she is reasonably well experienced.

“I thought she was at the stage where she was to start riding to go to the next level.

“She is keen and well presented – always dressed well – which is important to me.”

The four-kilo claimer’s best finish was fourth in her first three rides at Emerald last Saturday and she is hopeful her breakthrough victory might just be this weekend at Mitchell.  

“She has a long way to go but hopefully after making her race day debut, it will help her take it to the next level and improve,” Sears said.

“She went alright on Saturday; I spoke to her on the phone and Maddysen was happy with how she went.

“She is off to Mitchell this Saturday.”

Champkin first got the bug for horses after riding at pony club as a youngster and while she tried several different jobs since entering the work force, she declared everything was “boring” compared to being around horses.

The rookie hoop got her first taste of the racing industry with Toby and Trent Edmonds on the Gold Coast, an experience she loved and is thankful for the stable’s time and efforts, before her path to become a jockey accelerated when moving to the Sears team on the Darling Downs.  

“I pretty much grew up around horses my entire life but was more focussed on the eventing side of everything,” Champkin said.

“I used to compete all around Queensland and took it quite seriously.

“That led to me getting a job with Toby and Trent Edmonds on the Gold Coast at their racing stables.

“That kick started my love for the industry, I started there with the Edmonds’ and have loved it since.”

As well as riding at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, the young apprentice also spent some time at Gosford and Grafton earlier in her career.

While Champkin rides mainly for the Sears team in the morning, she also helps out other Darling Downs stables, including Mark Currie and Stephen Kirkwood, who she describes as supportive while being able to help her grow as a rider.