Fitzgerald ready for city chance after return from frightening setback
“I had to have a bit of time off due to illness, so that popped our timeline out of whack. I had been crook for a while, but I was just persevering through it, but it actually ruptured.”
Many expected Fitzgerald to contest the Sydney apprentices’ title from the early part of this season, but her team have stayed patient after the setback.
“We’re just more focused on doing the right thing by my claim and then taking my time, and that’s given me time to get more experience, and look better and stronger on them as well,” she said.
“I’m really looking forward to [riding in town], but I also want to make sure I’m ready because obviously you can get to town too soon.
“Annabel, Rob and I are all on the same page with progressing with my claim, and I think it’s there for a reason. We’re doing it a little bit old school, but it’s worked with a lot of good apprentices.”
Fitzgerald has wanted to be a jockey since age 11, when helping her father in his work developing a Racing NSW rehoming property near Taree.
“I always loved horses and I was very lucky to grow up with them,” she said.
“I went to the beach with Dad one morning to do a bit of pace work and I just fell in love with it. That’s when I made up my mind I wanted to be a jockey.
“As soon as I was old enough to get into the stables, I was in there the next day.”
Fitzgerald grew up riding in Pony Club events with Chris Waller’s newest apprentice Siena Grima, and like her, she wants to carve out a place in the elite Sydney jockeys’ room.
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“I just take it day by day because obviously the racing game can be challenging, but it’s also got awesome ups to it as well,” she said.
“But it’s just about constantly improving, that’s what I’m focused on, because I’ve got beautiful opportunities around me.”
On Saturday, her opportunities include Couples Retreat ($7 TAB) in the seventh. She rode Couples Retreat to back-to-back wins at Kembla before she had three thirds in city company under Zac Lloyd.
“She’s a beautiful mare, I really like her and it will be lovely to accompany her in town,” she said.
“She’s going well and I think the claim will help as well.”
Shelstein is $9 in the ninth. He was sixth, less than two lengths away, when first-up at Canterbury.
“It was a good run last start and I think the 1200 will suit as well,” she said.
