Rockhampton Race Preview: Thursday 30th October

Former jockey Jade Doolan back at Callaghan Park as a trainer

She was picking up horse manure and doing stable chores as soon as she could walk, now former veterinary nurse, jockey and stable hand, Jade Doolan is ready to give the next phase of her career a red-hot crack.

Mackay-based ‘horse girl’ Doolan, well known in local racing circles, returns to Callaghan Park on Thursday as a licensed trainer.

Doolan’s dad, former Cairns trainer George who passed away from cancer in 2015, was her original mentor and guide, and for some time now she has been participating in CQ and NQ racing with the successful John Manzelmann stable in Mackay.

She hoped race riding would be her calling and after lots of hard work learning the trade, in 2022 Doolan was named Racing Queensland’s Student of the Year.

But after 15 months of riding in races an injury to her left hand forced her retirement from her jockey career.

That meant the now 36-year-old was at a crossroads with what she was going to do next.

With 10 years of vet nursing experience, she thought briefly about that but, a little lost in her thoughts, she decided that she may just walk away from horses all together.

Brisbane based – Rockhampton apprentice Tahlia Fenlon stepped in and encouraged her to keep going, and so did her family and friends.

“Tahlia was great, had a job lined up for me with Mr. (Chris) Munce in Brisbane and everything, she just told me to keep going in racing,” Doolan said.

That support was the kick in the backside Doolan needed and recently, she got her career back on track, literally.

“I fought the battle with surgery, trying to get back to riding for over one-and-a-half years, before the doctors delivered the message to me, that with limited feeling in my injured hand, I wouldn’t be able to be a jockey again,” Doolan said.

“It was a blow as I love riding in races. “When I accepted it, I had to brush myself off and get back to thinking about what was next for me, I had held a trainer’s license before I began my jockey apprenticeship and with encouragement and support, I got my trainers’ license back. “I’ve had it since Birdsville Cup Day and now I have two horses racing, and my young ones. “They are giving me new hope.”

Doolan said she will have “her whole stable” at Callaghan Park on Thursday, I have two racing, they are in races one and two and my two two-years in the trials after the last race,” Doolan said.

Your Too Good, to be ridden by apprentice Tom Orr in race one, the Great Northern BM 70 Handicap (1050m) is a family horse, with the trainer’s mum Vivian sharing in the ownership.

“When dad passed mum asked me to find her a horse to race, this horse has been a great horse for us, he always runs a good race,” Doolan said.

Previously with Stuart Kendrick the Your Song mare, Your Too Good was transferred to John Manzelmann about 12 months ago and won three straight for him in Townsville straight off the bat.

With Doolan now doing her own thing with the seven-year-old, she has already added to the win tally. From three tries, Your Too Good is a last-start winner at Cloncurry and previously was runner-up twice at Gordonvale and Ewan.

Doolan was quite upbeat about having She’s Got Lyrics in her care. The 5yo mare races in the TAB Maiden Handicap (1400m) and will be ridden by Nathan Thomas.

“I’ve followed this horse her whole career and she is raced by family and friends, I was so pleased when (managing owner) Damien Bowe, ask me to train her,” Doolan said. “I did drop a few hints to get her.”

Formerly with “Hall of Fame” trainer Tony Gollan, She’s Got Lyrics has had one start for Doolan already, placing third at Mackay in a 1560m Maiden a couple of weeks ago. Her Brisbane form with Gollan should stand up quite well in CQ and NQ.

“I think she will find her level here,” Doolan said.

The Bay by Rubick has been runner-up four times on Brisbane metropolitan and Provincial tracks in Maiden class with the most recent of those in August when she ran second to Use Your Illusion in a 1640m Maiden at Doomben.

Doolan’s two babies will step out in the post-race meeting barrier trials which commence at 4.30pm.

The trainer has Tiger Rocket in Trial 1 over 850m, and Scotch Rocket in Trial 3 (850m).

Both horses have been given the “Rocket” tag of Manzelmann’s Rocket Lodge in Mackay.

“I also had to give one of them the Tiger prefix, in memory of Tiger Legend,” Doolan said. “Ironically, he has the Tiger Legend traits, quirky and has the makings of a nice horse. “We got ‘Scotch’ from the Magic Millions sale and he is likely to make it as a two-year-old.”

RQ Supports Safety in Racing

Racing Queensland representatives David Horne and Adam Balnaves will be at Callaghan Park on Thursday.

This month is the National Safe Work Month with Racing Queensland recognizing the importance of Safety in Racing and Queensland Mental Health.

Racing Queensland is committed to improving safety and health for all industry participants.

Horses in Race four, will carry RQ Supports Safety in Racing saddlecloths.

The first race at Callaghan Park is set to start at the early time of 11.46 am.

• David Aldred RJC CEO