Unicorn could be magical for apprentice jockey at Callaghan Park

Toowoomba-based apprentice jockey Chloe Lowe will team with Chinchilla trainer Rodney Hay and Rockhampton’s Kerrod Smyth with a good book of six rides on the Jockey Club’s seven race program on Friday.

Lowe got her eye in at Callaghan Park during the Rocky Cup Carnival riding a couple of minor placegetters at the big meetings for her boss, trainer Pat Webster and the 3kg provincial claimer returns for another crack, with her mounts including the smart last start winner Dehorned Unicorn for Hay in the Open Handicap (1050m).

Dehorned Unicorn, a three-time Sydney metro winner, is back in form with two wins and a second place since joining Hay’s stable earlier this year.

Lowe won first-up on Dehorned Unicorn in a 1000m Open Handicap at Barcaldine in May. The 6YO Star Witness gelding then finished second at Toowoomba in an 870m dash before returning to Barcaldine to win a Class 6 Plate (1000m) with Amy Meissner up, on the 7 July.

She will look to keep her 100% record intact on Dehorned Unicorn, a classy galloper who has won almost $450,000. Dehorned Unicorn has drawn barrier five in a field of nine.

Lowe will start the meeting riding Hay’s former Melbourne performer, Desert Star in the Class 3 Handicap (1600m). Desert Star is taking awhile to recapture its Victorian provincial form in Queensland, but the step up to the 1600m and the spacious Callaghan Park trach could be key to its improvement. Four of the Deep Field gelding’s initial Queensland starts have been over distances between 1200m and 1400m. Over 1600m at Barcaldine last start there was a sign of better things to come when the galloper raced prominently before being beaten around four lengths in a BM60 Handicap.

Lowe will also partner Moriconi and Coincide for Hay. The apprentice partnered Moriconi to a last start win a couple of weeks ago at Barcaldine at the rising eight-year-old mare may be able to make the step up to the BM58 (1400m). Coincide, a former Group race competitor, and winner twice early in his career in the southern states, is yet to find form in Queensland. Coincide will race in the BM68 Handicap (1200m).

Lowe also has two early rides for Smyth including promising Dawn Embers in the Maiden Plate (1200m). Dawn Embers was well supported to win at Callaghan Park last month when third to Scruffy over 1200m after hitting the lead at the top of the straight. Dawn Embers was only overpowered over the last 75m. The 4YO by Hellbent backed that up with a solid fourth at Mackay last week in a 1200m Maiden won by Out of Luck. Lowe’s other ride for Smyth is Star Turn gelding Upturn who is also knocking on the door for its first win. Upturn runs in the 2 & 3YO Maiden (1200m) after being beaten by just over a length when third at Callaghan Park on Newmarket Day.

24-year-old Lowe hails from Beaudesert, and calls Toowoomba home, but it was in Mount Isa where she springboarded her early career soon after making her race riding debut back in March last year.

Returning to The Isa after spending a couple of her primary school years there, Lowe rode a string of winners for the local trainers at Buchanan Park.

“Mount Isa was a good start and a crucial part of my career as I outrode my country claim there.” Lowe said. “It was like a big family environment at Mount Isa, and they all took me under their wing as soon as I kicked off.”

Lowe’s father worked in the Mount Isa mines for a year, and when she was younger, her family relocated to the region for the period time.

Racing in the west seems to hold a sweet spot for Lowe who also was a success at Birdsville and the wider circuit last year, taking out the leading riders prize for the 2024 carnival.

Now Lowe’s career is getting a real kick along at Webster’s stable. Her best results to date have been at Roma, Gatton, Mount Isa, Dalby and Barcaldine tracks, and from over 400 rides she has had around 86 winners, and she’s still counting.

“Its great riding for Pat, he just wants me to be the best rider I can be,” Lowe said. “I ride with Bubba Tilley and Hannah Richardson every day, so I am learning from them too.”

Rockhampton Jockey Club Friday racing at Callaghan Park starts at 1.04pm with the last at 4.52pm.

David Aldred CEO