By Jordan Gerrans
Comeback jockey Ian French is finally able to ride in front of his “lucky charm” again.
And, for French’s teenage daughter – Jordan – she is able to watch her idol being back race riding, doing what he loves.
The 47-year-old well-travelled hoop made a triumphant return to race day last Saturday afternoon at Bundaberg, securing a winner on his first day back in the saddle after an eight year spell.
French last rode in a race in May 2014 before opting to take a break to look after his daughter Jordan and mend to a few niggling injuries.
It was Jordan – who is now 13 years of age – who urged her father to pursue his ambitions as a jockey.
“Being a sole parent and my daughter was just five years old back then, I needed to play full-time dad at that stage,” French remembers about his decision to pull the pin back in 2014.
“It was only a few months ago now in 2022 that she turned around to me and said that she wanted me to go back racing so she could cheer me on.”
Jordan was able to applaud her father at the sand track in Bundaberg as galloper True Tally claimed victory in Benchmark 55 grade, which came at French’s second ride back.
And, to make the occasion even more memorable, French’s mother was also in attendance at the non-TAB occasion.
“When she was born, I took a week or ten days off and my first race meeting back after she was born, I booted home a winner,” French said of his daughter.
“And, a couple of years later, the first time she came to the races with me, I rode a double on that day.
“She is my lucky charm.
“She was at Bundaberg on Saturday, as well.”
Jordan is likely to be at Nanango this Saturday, with French keen to get her in a winning photo post-race after he collects another victory.
French has endured a stop-start career in the saddle over the years, battling serious knee and shoulder concerns at different occasions.