Eleven year-old Trent Pearce of Goologong jumped at an opportunity to mix with racing royalty when he ventured to Rosehill races in Sydney last week.
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By day’s end he had brushed shoulders with racing’s elite, leaving the course with an even greater desire to one day realise his dream of race riding for a living.
His first pony and a chat with champion Cowra rider Mathew Cahill at a Cowra race meeting when he was just nine fuelled Trent’s ambition to be a jockey.
Now 11, Trent tips the scales at just 29 kilograms.
“Mathew was his favourite jockey but it’s Hughie now,” Trent’s dad Chris said after his son spent time with the world’s best jockey Hugh Bowman and others, including Darren Beadman, Glyn Schofield and Adam Hyeronimus in the Rosehill jockeys room.
“Mathew’s been surpassed as his favourite jockey, just for the moment.
“Ever since his chat with Mathew he’s just wanted to be a jockey, he loves watching the races.”
During his Rosehill visit Trent came to the attention of the Sky Racing broadcast team of Glenn Munsie and Lizzie Jelfs and after telling Munsie of his desire to be a jockey the Sky host arranged for him to go into the jockeys room as well as meeting with the trainer of the world’s best racehorse Winx, Chris Waller.
And what advice did Waller and Hugh Bowman have for the Gooloogong boy.
“Chris said to keep your dreams alive,” Trent said while Hughie told him to work on his balance and ride his pony with his arms out ‘Hayne Plane’ style without holding the reigns.
Trent also met with former champion ride Darren Beadman who told him to make sure he rode for as long as he can with his leg irons long.
“It’s less distance to fall,” Darren told him.
As for now Trent’s returned home with plans to watch his “old” favourite jockey Matt Cahill ride trackwork as often as he can and continue to improve his riding skills at pony club.
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