A TOP APPRENTICE, WITH ALL OF THE CREDENTIALS TO SUCCEED, TAKES THE NEXT STEP

By Graham Potter | Thursday, July 27, 2023

Tahlia Fenlon, who enjoyed so much success in North Queensland in her first two, early, formative years as a professional jockey, will be looking to continue to forge her career in South-East Queensland on a permanent basis now that her indentures have been officially transferred from the Rockhampton based trainer Fred Smith to trainer Chris Munce at Eagle Farm, with whom Fenlon initially linked up with on a three-month loan period.

“Originally, I had someone send a message and ask if I would be interested in a swop with their apprentice” said Fenlon, explaining the way the move panned out.

“I was in two minds about the idea, because I was pretty comfortable at home. That option fell through, but then Chris wanted me to come, and when that opportunity came up ... you know I’d out-ridden my country claim (Fenlon won the 2021-22 Queensland Country Apprentice Jockey Premiership) and only had 2kg at the provincials, so if I was ever going to move this was going to be the right time, so I decided to take up Chris’s offer.

“It definitely was the right decision.”

“As far as setting goals is concerned, of course it doesn’t matter where you are you want to ride as many winners as you can but, my aim beyond that, is to get my metropolitan license. I’m in no rush to get it, but that is a definite aim once I out-ride the other claim.”
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“We were hoping to find a young apprentice who already had traction,” said Corey Munce, taking up the story from the stable’s perspective, “and Tahlia was obviously riding a stack of winners up north.

“It probable came about through a couple of senior riders ... one in particular, Ryan Wiggins (who rides a lot in North Queensland). He put forward the question whether she would be comfortable coming down here and seeing how we do things at Eagle Farm, and she took the opportunity to give it a go, and her parents were very supportive of the idea.”

And the Munce team have now joined Fenlon’s support system in no uncertain terms.

They could not be more glowing in their initial assessment of their new team member on both a professional and personal level.

“She is such a lovely girl,” stated Corey Munce. “She gets along with everybody. She is approachable. She is a good worker. She is always at work on time. She is always willing to help ... she really rips into it ... and, of course, she is a good rider as well. Horses run for her. She is a great lightweight jockey, and she still claims 2kg.
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“It is never easy when you relocate," contined Munce.. "You have to build traction all over again and for that you need to have enough rides to be able to produce a regular flow of winners ... because, as we all know, it is an industry where, if you are riding winners, you get put on more horses.

“So, as always, it is all about opportunity and that situation is a work in progress for her ... as is her development as a rider. She’s only been in town for three months. She was already established in North Queensland, but when you come and race against the likes of the Ormans and the Maloneys and others, you know you have got a lot to learn ... but that’s going to come naturally when you ride against senior riders, see what they do and pick up bits and pieces of riding expertise from them.

“We are going to do all we can to get her more exposure to other trainers, so they will be aware of her presence ... be that at meetings at Toowoomba or the Gold Coast or at jump-outs and trials, because I think that exposure is really the key.

“It is never easy, but the fact that she was happy to move here permanently ... and is prepared to continue to give it a full crack is very much to her credit.

Once she gets that traction, she’ll be right.”
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That North Queensland grounding is sure to prove invaluable to Fenlon who arrived in South-East Queensland with a host of achievements behind her name and experiences which will help her navigate the change in route that her career is now following, as well as set her up for coping with the variety of challenges every jockey faces when relocating to a new racing precinct.

While her present and future path’s main focus lies in South-East Queensland, North Queensland continues to a happy hunting ground for Fenlon, with her thrilling, historic success in the MacKay Cup last Saturday being a case in point. Not to mention the emotion of the moment.

Thrilling because of the manner in which Fenlon produced the $61 chance Savvy Legend from well back to cut down the $1.70 favourite Namazu in the final strides (Fenlon became the book-makers instant new best friend in that moment) ... and historic because the win gave Fenlon the distinction of becoming the first female apprentice to win the Mackay Cup.
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Fenlon’s boss, Chris Munce, of course, is a member of an elite club of jockeys who have won racing’s Grand Slam ... the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and The Golden Slipper.

As such, the amount of riding expertise he can pass on and his overall mentorship in all of the aspects of learning the craft of race-riding in the coming months will be second to none ... and there is also no doubt that Fenlon has the focus and the will to learn that is required to gain maximum benefit from such an association.

And the stable has another former top jockey in their ranks.

Alan Russell, whose association with the mighty Falvelon is well remembered, has already been providing Fenlon with good, practical, sound advice.

“Almost daily, Alan has been giving Tahlia little pointers and tips and going through her race rides,” said Corey Munce.

While nothing in life is guaranteed, her formline suggests it should be onwards and upwards from her for Fenlon, whose exploits have already underlined the fact that talent, a good work ethic and a positive attitude can get you a long way.

Chances are all she needs is that sniff of opportunity to keep the ball rolling!

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