By Craig Kerry
For most jockeys, a NSW Saturday city debut at Gosford might seem a bit strange. But for Jace McMurray, it seems like fate.
“I was actually born in Gosford,” said McMurray, who has come from the Gold Coast to join the Michael Freedman stable at Randwick on a three-month loan.
“My parents grew up around this area, Wyong and Sydney, and moved up to Cairns when I was very young. And I was there for most of my life before moving to Coffs Harbour.”
The 18-year-old has racked up 97 victories in 13 months of race riding, landing winners at an impressive strike rate of 15 per cent as an apprentice to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton.
“My pop [Michael McMurray] was a jockey,” he said. “We grew up watching racing, but I didn’t really have my eyes set on being a jockey in the early days.
“It wasn’t until I wanted to find something out of school, and once I first sat on a horse, and I loved it, I thought I’d give it a shot – and I’ve never looked back.”
Jace McMurray makes his NSW city debut at Gosford on Saturday.Credit: Racing Queensland
McMurray is now keen to parlay his early success, and three-kilogram claim, into carving out a place in one of the world’s most competitive jockey rooms. And he has his sights set on next season’s Sydney apprentices’ premiership if he can do just that.
“I’m obviously looking to kick some goals and try to make it in this circuit here, sort of match it with a couple of jockeys here,” he said.
“That was the main thing, while I’ve still got a claim, coming to the metropolitan ranks and still being able to use it here.
“It was always on my mind, whether it was here or Melbourne, to match it with the top jockeys in Australia. And if not, well, I’ll take a lot of advice and learning from them, and if I go back up there, I’ll be a lot better.
McMurray has impressed as an apprentice to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton.Credit: Racing Queensland
“I’m on loan for three months. Then it’s if I like it, or how it’s going at the end of those three months, and how Michael thinks we’re progressing. But obviously, I’d love to see a future here.”
McMurray had his first rides since the move south this week at Kembla (Tuesday), Warwick Farm (Wednesday) and Wyong (Thursday) without a win, and he heads to Gosford’s standalone The Coast program on Saturday for two chances.
He partners consistent performer Ritzsun, a $7.50 Sportsbet chance, for Scone trainer Scott Singleton in the third race, a class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m), then Last Command ($12) for his new boss in the next, a benchmark 72 handicap (1600m).
From gate six, Last Command is a last start-winner at Kembla and carries just 53.5kg with McMurray’s claim.
“Obviously, there’s big support from Mr Freedman, and I’ve been very grateful for the horses he’s been putting me on and giving me this opportunity here,” McMurray said.
“I actually had a feel of [Last Command] the other day, and he feels well going into it. They both look like nice horses in those races.”
McMurray has had an early taste of what it’s like riding in the elite Sydney ranks, and he said it was definitely a step up and a thrill.
“All the jockeys know where they are going to be and where you’re going to be in the run,” he said. “Definitely a lot more knowledge here.
“They’ve been pretty good. They were all very respectful and pretty nice to me. They come up and introduced themselves. It’s definitely a big thrill. Even sitting next to Nash [Rawiller] and talking to him, it’s pretty cool.
“J-Mac [James McDonald], you obviously look up to him, and a few of them. I watched them on TV even before I started race riding and I loved watching them ride.”
