Fitzgerald ready for city chance after return from frightening setback
“I had to take some time off due to illness, which messed up our timeline. I had been doing the scam for a while but I was sticking with it but it actually fell apart.”
Many expected Fitzgerald to take the Sydney apprentices title from earlier this season but his side remained patient following the defeat.
“We focused more on doing the right thing with my claim and then taking the time and that gave me time to gain more experience and look better and stronger against them,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it. [riding in town]but I also want to make sure I’m ready because obviously you can arrive in town very early.
“Annabel, Rob and I are on the same page about moving forward with my claim, and I think there’s a reason for that. We’re doing it a little old school, but it’s worked with a lot of good apprentices.”
Fitzgerald wanted to be a jockey since the age of 11, when he was helping his father with a new property development for Racing NSW near Taree.
“I’ve always loved horses and I’m so lucky to have grown up with them,” she said.
“One morning I went to the beach with my dad to do some tempo training and I fell in love with it. That’s when I decided to become a jockey.
“When I was old enough to go into the stables, I was there the next day.”
Fitzgerald grew up riding in Pony Club events with Chris Waller’s newest apprentice, Siena Grima, and like him, she is looking to carve out a place for herself among Sydney’s elite jockeys.
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“I take it day by day because the racing game can be challenging, of course, but there are also great improvements,” he said.
“But it’s about constantly improving; that’s what I’m focused on, because there are so many great opportunities around me.”
Saturday’s deals include Couples Vacation ($7 TAB) in seventh place. He led Doubles Retreat to back-to-back wins at Kembla before making it three-thirds in city company under Zac Lloyd.
“She is a beautiful mare, I really love her and it will be great to accompany her around the city,” he said.
“It’s going well and I think the bet will help, too.”
Shelstein is $9 on the ninth. On his race debut at Canterbury he was sixth, less than two furlongs clear.
“It was a good run last start and I think the 1200 will also be suitable,” he said.
