Female jockey Georgina Sergeon does not pay any mind to her detractors.. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Freelance Photographer
Eighteen-year-old apprentice rider Georgina Sergeon, who recently graduated from the Jockeys' School, was the toast of Caymanas Park yesterday when notching the first win of her career aboard 4-1 chance NAVAJOJOE in the fifth race over 1800 metres.
Sergeon, who graduated with 18 others (all men) from the Jockeys' School on August 20 at a passing-out ceremony on the lawns of the Jamaica Racing Commission, Winchester Road, became only the second Jamaican woman behind Azel Cowie in 1992 to win in the 50-year history of Caymanas Park.
The tiny apprentice pushed the Barrington Rambally-trained eight-year-old gelding NAVAJOJOE into an early lead along the rails and as they say in racing, paced the field to death.
NAVAJOJOE responded nicely to the left hand stick by moving away in the straight to win by 103/4 lengths from the Paul Francis-ridden POINT AND CLICK, despite drifting out to finish on the stands' side fence.
An elated Sergeon said it was a tremendous feeling to win her first race after riding for only three racedays.
"I knew the horse had a good chance and although it was a long race, I felt I could slip them leaving the half mile, as the horse was light enough with 46.5kg to hold the field at bay in the straight," said Sergeon, who added that in recent weeks she had received words of encouragement from Cowie herself.
En route to the Jockeys' Room, Sergeon was warmly greeted by Jamaica Racing Commission welfare officer Ina Lawrence as well as jockeys and trainers, including two-time champion jockey Brian Harding who gave her a big hug, much to the delight of their colleagues.
In retrospect, the road has not been easy for Georgina since she started an intensive six-month training course at the Jamaica Racing Commission-run Jockeys' School back in January.
broke arm
She took some time to get the hang of things and to make matters worse, was thrown by a horse at exercise and broke her right arm midway through the course and was sidelined for a few weeks.
But thanks to her determination, she made up the lost ground, culminating in her maiden win yesterday.
On a day when jockey Harding, trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and leading owner Elias Haloute teamed up for a triple, 3-5 favourite RACING MACHINE scored an impressive fast-time victory (made all) over the straight in the Reggae Trophy grade-one feature. The American bred 4-y-o filly was ridden by lightweight jockey Carlton Malcolm for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and his wife, Elizabeth.