Apprentice jockey Sophie Wilcock back with a bang

By Jordan Gerrans

With a winner quickly under her belt, comeback hoop Sophie Wilcock is set to take on her first full book of engagements as her return builds momentum at Cunnamulla on Sunday afternoon.

The 26-year-old apprentice took her first race rides since February of 2020 at Maranoa Diggers' Race Club last week, nabbing a winner from one of her two rides.

It was a triumphant return for the heavyweight hoop, lifting Tango Tino in the last event of the program over 1400 metres.

Wilcock has ridden more than 30 winners across her career – which kicked off in 2018 – before a battle with her weight put her on the sidelines on race day for more than two years.

With her weight now at a more manageable level and being based in Roma, Wilcock is confident she can make it work this time around.

She walks around at 60.5kgs - and rides at 59kgs – and is hopeful of getting down to a riding weight of 56kgs in the warmer months.

Despite taking a break from race riding, Wilcock continued to ride track work, while also focussing in more closely on her diet and gym program this year as the calendar ticked over to 2022.  

“I thought it would be best to give the body a break and have a spell,” Wilcock said of her stepping away in early 2020.

“I was just struggling a bit there and it was not meant to be two and a half year long the break, but it was a change of scenery and getting used to being out here.

“At the start of this year I was really able to knuckle down and get stuck into it, I am happy with where I am now

“I love going to the gym, doing body weighted stuff as well as cardio.”

After previously being based on the Darling Downs, Wilcock now works under Scott Rodgers on the sand at Roma, where he has a small team in work.

She also rides a few each morning for leading Roma trainer Craig Smith, among others.

Wilcock’s family hails from the United Kingdom as they moved to Australia when she was a teenager.

Prior to taking the break from race riding, Roma’s Bassett Park was her most successful track – picking up four winners there – so a move to the Downs-based facility  made sense.

“Roma is a favourite of mine track wise,” she said.

“I like the country lifestyle and it is quieter out here.”

With a book of five rides at Cunnamulla and District Diggers' Race Club on Sunday, Wilcock is not getting ahead of herself in her comeback, just happy to be back in the saddle.

With four for trainer Shane Iverson and one for John Patterson, she is hopeful of snaring another winner, declaring she has “really good rides” this Sunday.

“It was going to be easier for me to get going again with the heavy weights, so I came out here to Roma and I am loving it,” she said.

“I am happy to cruise around on these heavy rides for now but if I get the opportunity at the provincials or further, then I would jump at the chance.

“But, I am just happy to be back race riding again.”

Trained by Mark Johnstone, Tango Tino did it easily in Benchmark 60 grade last Sunday to hand Wilcock her first winner back on her return afternoon.

“I wanted to stay away from the fence as it was a bit heavier on the inside,” she said.

“She was too good for them when I took the breaks off.

“She got going and had the others off the bit and she won real easy in the end.”

The caller at Maranoa Diggers' Race Club – which is based at Mitchell – made special mention of Wilcock’s achievement as she crossed the line.