Sport
6 November, 2024
Apprentice overcomes tragedy to notch up first winning double
Mel Campbell had something to smile about after landing two winners at Cloncurry.
Racing comes with highs and lows, but not many experience what Mel Campbell endured over the last few months.
In July, after it was confirmed she was pregnant, the apprentice jockey put her career on hold so she could prepare to welcome her third child into the world.
In cruel circumstances, she lost the baby, forcing her to reassess a decision to take a break from race riding.
“It was hard on myself and my partner but as soon as I knew that outcome, there was only one thing on my mind and it was getting back into the saddle and doing what I love,” Campbell told North West Weekly.
The 25-year-old made a few key decisions to help get back on the track, including a move from the south-east corner to Townsville, where she is now working at the stables of Bonnie Thomson.
“I’m really enjoying it, especially now with my fitness getting to where I like it,” Campbell said.
“I can probably get a little bit fitter, but I’ve only been back race riding for about three weeks and enjoying every minute of it.
“Now that I’ve relocated it’s nice to get my name out there and have trainers call me, rather than me calling them for rides. That’s a great feeling.”
Riding winners is also a great feeling and the apprentice had two of them at Cloncurry on Saturday.
“That was my first winning double,” said Campbell, who took her career wins tally to seven.
Not your typical apprentice, Campbell is older than most of her peers and has two children.
After making her riding debut at Longreach in March this year, wins have been hard to come by, but she’s hoping the switch to North Queensland and more rides at non-TAB venues in the bush will help her progress.
Campbell made the most of her opportunities at Schumacher Park on Saturday, saluting aboard two favourites for Cloncurry trainer Terry Hall.
She guided $2 shot You Might Think to victory in the Pacific Fuel Solutions QTIS Maiden Plate and then got the job on “the good thing of the day”, which was the well-fancied The Carpenter.
“Hoops (jockey Jason Hoopert) was telling me on the drive from Mount Isa that he was the horse to beat,” Campbell said.
“I was a bit nervous but I was glad to get that double. I got a bit emotional when it happened.”
It was a good day for North West trainers with the spoils shared across the Derby Day program.
Richmond trainer Shryn Royes and Hoopert combined to win the Bakhash Family Class B Handicap with Good Kitty.
Well in the market at $2.80, the six-year-old mare made light work of them to win by a big margin.
Julia Creek’s Tanya Parry also had a winner after rank outsider Chaseton defied his $17 odds to win a thrilling Benchmark 60.
Ridden by Jason Babarovich, Chaseton had to work hard for his win, with the Kim McGovern-trained Bute Moves ($10) giving him plenty in the straight, only to fall short by a nose.
Meanwhile, it was a great day to be a Queenslander on Melbourne Cup day as Knight’s Choice caused a boilover in the feature race.
The $91 elect, trained out of the Sunshine Coast by John Symons and Sheila Laxon, made his race debut in a Kilcoy maiden in March last year, finishing fourth.