Women jockeys are increasingly making an impact around the world and, if sheer determination is anything to go by, Erin-Lee Watkinson may one day make her mark in what is still largely a male dominated profession.
Magnetic Dime wins the opener under Erin-Lee Watkinson (Pic – Wayne Marks)
The Andre Nel-trained Magnetic Dime opened one of the favourites for the Work Riders’ Maiden at Kenilworth on Saturday but punters, most of whom had never heard of her, allowed her mount to drift out to 11-2.
They won’t make that mistake again.
This may have been only Miss Watkinson’s third ride but she sent her mount to the front 400m from home and coolly kept her going to score by three-parts of a length.
Not bad for a qualified engineer!
Happy moment for the young lady (Pic – Wayne Marks)
The 24-year-old explained: “I made a deal with my parents – I wanted to become a jockey but they said ‘You must get a qualification first.’
“I have already spent a year at the Jockey Academy but then they changed the rules. However Andre is now applying for me to be apprenticed to him. If that doesn’t work out then I will go to New Zealand because the academy there has already offered me a place.”
- Michael Clower writes for Kenilworth Racing
