Te Puia-born jockey Hailey racks up first win

Ngakau Hailey has come a long way from riding horses on the East Coast. The 16-year-old apprentice jockey won the Greerton Maiden 1550-metre race on Chattahoochee — the first of what he is aiming to be many more wins. Picture by Kenton Wright

RACING

Having ridden on the East Coast since he was a child, Ngakau Hailey has always felt at home on the back of a horse and is enjoying turning that passion into a career.

The 16-year-old apprentice jockey is in his first season of riding and is already making a positive impression on trainers.

That was enhanced at Cambridge on June 24 when he recorded his first race-day victory aboard Chattahoochee in the Greerton Maiden (1550m).

The win (at odds of $7.90 and $4.20 on the NZ TAB) was made even sweeter by the fact Hailey achieved the milestone for his employer Debbie Sweeney, and there was no one prouder on track than the Te Awamutu horsewoman.

“It was pretty special,” Sweeney said. “My Poppa died on Tuesday and Ngakau’s uncle died on Saturday, so it was nice for everyone for Ngakau to get his first winner.

“He sits on them nicely and has been riding really well. Hopefully I can find a few faster ones for him to ride now.”

Hailey was over the moon with the win, and he said he was confident a long way out on Saturday.

“It was great to finally get that first win,” he said.

“He jumped nice, I got him to relax and he gave me a beautiful feeling the whole way. It was a great experience.”

Born and initially raised on the East Coast of the North Island, Hailey has been riding horses since before he can remember and he said he has always had a love for the animal.

“I was born in Te Puia Springs,” he said. “On the Coast, we would just jump on them (horses) and go into the bush. I used to do horse sports and I have been bareback riding since I was a baby.”

Hailey enjoyed his idyllic childhood, but soon had to adjust to city life where other sports took precedence over horses for a couple of years.

“We moved to Hamilton when I was eight and I stopped riding for a little bit, I was only riding every now and again,” he said.

Rugby league, touch and boxing became his new loves. However, a chance encounter with track-work riding rearranged his priorities and he became intent on a career in the saddle.

“Before I wanted to be a jockey I wanted to be an NRL player, but I never grew,” he said.

“I was hooker, my club was Hamilton City Tigers and I played for Waikato Māori and Waikato District.

“One day I went up to Pokeno (north of Hamilton) with one of my uncles and I tried track-work riding and I fell in love.

“I then went out to Shelley Wright’s at Ngaruawahia and I started riding on the farm out there to get some experience, and I got my first job with Debbie Sweeney.

“As soon as I got a taste with a trial ride, I had to give other sport up. But I am absolutely loving riding and I am looking forward to riding more winners.”

— Story from Loveracing.nz