Rising apprentice lands first city win
Albany apprentice jockey Shelby Colgate is still pinching herself after riding her first metropolitan winner aboard Chasing Chaos at Belmont Park last Saturday, less than 18 months after starting her career.
Indentured to leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe, Colgate began riding in races in February, 2016 and finished with 10 winners in her maiden season before tallying 19 victories in the 2016-17 season.
Colgate was aboard Chasing Chaos, which started an $18 chance on the tote, in Saturday’s $40,000 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes — Dec 2 Handicap (1400m) and had to overcome being caught wide in the early stages to eventually cross and lead from barrier eight.
The six-year-old gelding led the field coming into the home straight and Colgate went to work, urging him to the line in the concluding stages as they downed Pinsson by a long neck.
Colgate said it was a wonderful feeling after the race.
“It’s one of the best feelings in the world, such an adrenaline rush,” she said.
“I was so happy coming back and I’m still savouring it now.”
The 20-year-old admits she still gets nervous going into bigger races but hopes this will kickstart a fruitful 2017-18 season.
“It’s certainly a good start to the season and gets your name out there,” she said.
“It was very special to win for the boss and the horse hadn’t won for over a year.”
Chasing Chaos broke a 469-day winning drought for Wolfe, who earlier last week had rising middle distance galloper Boxonlucy win her second consecutive race in midweek grade at Belmont.
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