Jockey’s designs on major success

IN a stunning magenta gown trackside at Ascot, jockey Lucy Warwick shines bright.

It’s a stark contrast for the down-to-earth Harvey girl, who also spends time in Joondanna when at race meets and feels more comfortable in her racing silks than in designer get-up, but still she takes to the photo shoot with ease.

The 18-year-old, whose love for the majestic animals began early in life, is following in her family’s footsteps and taking it all in her stride.

When the race that stopped the nation saw the first female jockey Michelle Payne take out the Melbourne Cup, Warwick was beating the boys at their own game too; taking out two races at Ascot on the same day.

Having only taken up the sport professionally about two years ago, she has clocked up 196 wins, is a Perth Racing ambassador and the face of the Kingston Town Classic and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“I come from a racing family,” Warwick said. “My whole family have been in racing their entire life.

“Both my grandad and his dad trained trotters, my dad was also a leading harness driver and trainer and won many races.

“My mum was a world-class show jumper at one stage and mum and dad now train race horses. I really had no choice but to grow up in racing.”

With Michelle Payne hype at fever pitch, Warwick said she could not be happier for the 30-year-old who took out this year’s Melbourne Cup as the first female to do so.

She added that while she had never encountered sexism in the sport, it was good to see just as many girls taking up the sport these days.

“I’ve been pretty lucky through my career, I’ve never had any sexist comments,” she said. “I’ve also never lost a ride due to me being a girl but I’ve only been riding for two years.

“Michelle’s come from a different era and she has done it hard, she’s gone through all of that and she has made her mark. It’s great to see her succeeding and finally live out her dream.”

Warwick also had this advice for young girls looking to take up the sport.

“Just go for it,” she said.

“It is obviously half a male-dominated sport or it has been for many years but if you’re going to compete against the boys you’ve got to be one of the boys.

“It is sort of intimidating when you start out, but if you want to be a jockey, you’ve just got to go hard for it.”