Rookie jockey Elle Sole triumphs

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Author: RACING Joshua Smith LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
• Publication title: Stratford Press

Growing up riding her pony in the bush, racing was never in the picture for Sole until she started doing work experience with local New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler while at school, so it was only fitting she recorded her first win aboard one of his horses at New Plymouth on Friday

The 20-year-old apprentice jockey was riding at her first meeting and Wheeler had given her three rides, the best left until last: Herbert, in the Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Maiden (1600m).

Sole started the day with a sixth place aboard Keen On Bubbles in the Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Maiden (1200m), but her confidence took a hit when she finished last aboard Zivjeli in the Grangewilliam Stud 1400m.

However, her confidence was quickly restored knowing she had her best winning chance to come, and she didn’t disappoint, steering Herbert to a 1-3/4 length victory, rewarding both Wheeler and punters alike, who had backed him into $1.70 favouritism.

Sole was rapt to get the result, particularly aboard a horse she rides every day for her employer, Wheeler.

“He is one of the best horses in the stable at the moment, he is a very nice horse,” Sole said.

“He is quiet as and he doesn’t put a foot wrong. He just wanders around and does his own thing. I have been riding him every day since he came back from the breakers. It was pretty cool to get that win. I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me.”

Sole was particularly grateful to Wheeler, who took her under his wing as a school student with no racing knowledge or background and nurtured her talent and enthusiasm for riding that she had honed in the bush as a kid.

“My Mum and Dad are logging contractors. They never rode horses and one day I asked for a pony, and they bought me a 12 hand pony,” Sole said. “Dad used to take me to work with him and I would ride around the bush. I didn’t do any competing, I just rode around on my pony until I was 16.

“I was doing work experience in the logging industry with my Dad and Mum, and they asked me what else I was interested in because they wanted me to have two days out of school. I said I was interested in horses, so they rang up a few trainers and I got into John Wheelers.

“I didn’t know anything about racing, I hadn’t even watched a race before I worked at John’s. He took me to a jumpout one day and I asked him how do I become a jockey?

“I was grateful and happy to get...