Episode 509: Luke Nolen

When Luke Nolen’s in full swing it’s difficult to get him to sit still long enough to conduct an interview. Currently he’s on the sidelines indefinitely following a freakish fall at Geelong early in December. Although frustrated and in some discomfort, the champion jockey gave us all the time we needed to get a podcast “in the can”. What a career it’s been for the Victorian born horseman whose riding record is one of Australian racing’s most enviable. Almost 2000 wins, 40 Gr 1’s, three Melbourne jockey’s premierships and two Scobie Breasley medals. There was an awful lot to talk about. Luke begins by taking us through the horror Geelong fall which was attributable to a broken stirrup leather. He talks of surgery already completed and what lies ahead.  Luke reflects on early days when his dad Tal took the family all over Australia looking for suitable job opportunities. The jockey talks of school days and an aversion to study. He pays tribute to Tal, to his late mother Margaret and brother Shaun. Luke looks back on a move back to Victoria when Tal was able to arrange an apprenticeship with master mentor Gerald Egan. Like most apprentices he hasn’t forgotten the buzz around his very first win at Albury in 1998. Luke talks of the reputation he quickly earned as an unflappable young rider. He remembers two nicknames he picked up in his youth, and the circumstances behind their creation. He looks back on time spent with former champion trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith at Flemington. Luke was thrilled beyond belief to win his first Gr 1 race for the maestro Bart Cummings. He clearly remembered the first ride he ever had for Peter Moody. The jockey talks of his enduring relationship with Moody and gives the reasons that partnership has stood the test of time. By his own admission Luke says he never tires of talking about Black Caviar.    He won 22 of 25 on the champion mare. He agrees Jarrod Noske and Ben Melham who rode her in the other three wins will have something to tell their grandchildren. Luke says Black Caviar was an uncomplicated race mare. He pinpoints the best of her 25 wins. Looks back on her near defeat at Royal Ascot in 2012. He says she was battling niggling muscle issues on the day. He talks of Black Caviar’s tendency to “come back underneath him” in the closing stages. He also heaps praise on runner up Moonlight Cloud who went within a head of destroying the great mare’s iconic record. Luke talks of the champion’s debilitating fight with laminitis and subsequent euthanisation. To add to the tragedy Black Caviar’s Snitzel colt also died. The star jockey highlights a few personal favourites from the long list of outstanding horses he’s ridden beginning with Typhoon Tracey. He looks back on Peter Moody’s decision to walk away from racing following his suspension on cobalt charges. Luke acknowledges the deeds of elite gallops I Wish I Win, and El Segundo. He pays tribute to Alicia his wife of 17 years, and children Dane and Kailey.  Luke says he’s grateful to have three Melbourne jockey’s premierships and two Scobie Breasley medals on his CV. We close the podcast by referring to a quote from Gerard Whateley’s 2012 biography on Black Caviar. Gerard goes behind the public persona in identifying the real Luke Nolen.