A Waitara kid with vision and balance has taken racing by storm. PAUL GUEORGIEFF of NZPA reports.
One of Michael Walker's strengths is his level-headedness. So it's ironic that one of the biggest fears held for him is an over-inflated ego.
But it's not hard to understand when you come to appreciate just what the boom apprentice jockey has achieved in his first year of riding - and the fame that has come with it.
The 16-year-old has set the New Zealand racing world abuzz as records have tumbled like ninepins. He has beaten records that have belonged to racing idols like Shane Dye and Opie Bosson. He is already rated the best young rider since Brent Thomson.
His amazing success has seen the public take to him to like a hot tip from Lance O'Sullivan.
But how Walker copes with the celebrity status is considered by many crucial to whether he fulfils his potential.
Walker's employer, Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock, said he drummed into the youngster from the outset to keep his feet on the ground.
"That has been the message from day one, and it hasn't been a problem," Sharrock said.
"As long as he is under my care, he'll continue to be that same level-headed boy."
Sharrock said his advice was simple.
"I tell him, you have got to be humble all the time; people love a gracious winner."
Being the proud tutor of the racing whizzkid doesn't stop Sharrock from marvelling at Walker's achievements.
"I don't think anyone in my lifetime, or his, will emulate what's he's done.
"It's probably the greatest thing to happen to racing for a long time."
Walker yesterday ended this racing season with 131 wins to be New Zealand's leading jockey. It is first time the premiership has been won by a rider in his first year.
The 131 wins also represents a New Zealand record for the most wins in a season by an apprentice. The previous record was 128, by Bosson in the 1997-98 season.
Walker also smashed another of Bosson's records, the most wins by a rider in his first year or riding. Bosson's record was 71.
He also shattered Dye's record of most wins in a rider's first full season. Dye's record, set in 1983-84, was 71.
Yet another record Walker set was the first New Zealand rider to out-ride his apprentice weight claim in his first year of riding. He achieved it within 9-1/2 months when posting his 81st win on May 18.
A little more than a week later Walker had a red letter day at an Otaki race meeting when he rode five winners.
Walker has not ridden a group one winner but he has had success at group three level - five times.
Sharrock said Walker's success came down to one thing.
"Vision," he said. "He knows what he is doing ...
"The rest of them hope it happens. He makes it happen. That's his biggest asset."
Sharrock said Walker showed maturity way beyond his years and he also admired him because he was not just a whip rider.
"You quite often see him in a close finish put the stick away and push his hands through the mane and try and get the horse's head down.
"I think the days of jockeys punishing their mounts have gone."
A highlight in Sharrock's book was Walker's ride on The Gifted Shifta in the Wellington Cup.
The Gifted Shifta did not win but she finished third in a copybook ride and Sharrock could not believe how Walker handled himself in one New Zealand's most important races just six months into his career.
"It was unbelievable. He never covered an inch of extra ground from a mid-field draw, pocketed her away nicely on the rails and she ran third in a group one race.
"For a kid of 15 years of age you would have thought he had been doing it for 10 years."
Walker is not really sure of the reason for his success but it is obvious he listens well to Sharrock when he starts repeating some of the words of his boss.
"Vision, balance, there's a lot to it," Walker said.
"You have got to have confidence, put your horse in the race."
He said one thing he had learned was not to panic in a race.
"The gaps come, is just a matter of when. You don't need to get all uptight. You know when its going to happen."
Walker's affinity with horses started at the age of 11 when he started doing work at Sharrock's stables.
"I was there at five o'clock in the morning before school and there again after school. The only thing I wanted to be from that time on was be a jockey."
Walker got special dispensation to leave Waitara High School, north of New Plymouth, at the age of 15 instead of the normal 16.
"I wanted to get out and start riding. I didn't like school."
Walker said he was no angel at school but at the same time no rat-bag.
"I did get in trouble as schoolkids do. I wouldn't say I was naughty, but I had my moments."
Walker was born in Rotorua and moved to Waitara when aged about eight. He said he was principally brought up by his grandmother, Salla Third.
Walker used the surname of Third until he applied for an apprentice's licence when he was required to produce a birth certificate which stated his father's surname was Walker.
He took on his father's surname which prompted Sharrock to joke: "You can't have a jockey called Third, he has to be a winner."
Walker said his father James lived in Australia and he spoke to him occasionally by telephone and had visited him in Australia.
Walker's mounts this season have earned just over $1 million of which he receives 5 per cent. This means that together with a $70 riding fee, Walker has earned $117,000.
However, half of his earnings go to his employer who provides accommodation and looks after the apprentice's welfare.
The other half is held in trust by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing but at Walker's present rate he can look forward to a cheque in the vicinity of $250,000 when he completes his apprenticeship at the age of 19.
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