Episode 549: Clare Lindop

Although there wasn’t a trace of racing in Clare Lindop’s family background, the little girl from Warrnambool was hellbent on becoming a jockey from age 10. Her parents finally relented and  bought their youngest daughter a pony called Annie- the pony destined to teach her young companion the rudiments of riding. Whenever either of her parents could find the time to drive her to the St. Mary’s Pony Farm at Wangoom, little Clare would spend every available minute putting Annie through her paces. From these unpretentious beginnings, Clare Lindop forged a career that would take her to racing’s biggest stage. She quit the saddle in 2018 with 1432 winners on her CV, including 4 Gr 1’s and another 50 stakes races. Now in a full time role with Racing South Australia, Clare takes time out to revisit her stellar career for our podcast regulars. She admits to the occasional nostalgic flutter when she watches Adelaide’s feature races each year. Clare says she went to great pains to play her retirement down in 2018. She didn’t want the fuss. She does admit that she gradually weaned herself off horses by riding trackwork for quite some time. Clare reaffirms that nobody in her family had the slightest connection to horses. Her parents were not overly impressed with her persistent pleas to invest in a pony, but finally relented.  The four time Gr 1 winning jockey looks back on her initial apprenticeship to Warrnambool trainer Frank Byrne. She recalls her first race ride at Warrnambool and her first winning ride at Dunkeld. Clare vividly recalls her first metropolitan win on Mondilibi at Moonee Valley. She talks about a transfer of her indentures to Jack Barling at Hamilton in 1997. The retired jockey looks back on her life changing relocation to Adelaide in 1999 and the beginning of a long time association with trainer Byron Cozamanis. Clare recalls the thrill of her first Adelaide metro win on Odysseus at Cheltenham. She remembers with affection her first metro win as a fully fledged jockey at the famous Victoria Park track. The horse was one of her all time favourites. Clare looks back on the occasion of her first Adelaide stakes win for great supporter Leon McDonald.   She looks back on an amazing sequence of wins- four timers at three consecutive race meetings. Clare remembers with great clarity the unforgettable experience of her first Melbourne Cup ride. The former top lightweight is proud of her three Adelaide jockeys premierships. She remembers her first Gr 1 win- an all the way victory in the 2006 Adelaide Cup.. Lindop takes us back to her second Melbourne Cup appearance in 2007. Not surprisingly Clare takes great pleasure in looking back on her association with outstanding 2YO filly Augusta Proud. She takes us back to her Magic Millions win in 2008. Now to the horse who took the talented rider to racing’s biggest stage with a Victoria Derby win at odds of $101. She takes us through the Rebel Raider story. Like most Adelaide based jockeys Clare wanted to win a Goodwood Hcp. Her turn came in 2011 when Robert Smerdon chased her services for Lone Rock in the famous sprint. She got the job done. Clare managed to fit in two separate trips to the UK in 2009 and again in 2011. She looks back on a great experience and the four winners she landed on some famous tracks. She talks of the multiple injuries sustained in a fall at Morphettville in 2014. Clare looks back on a business meeting with leading jockey manager Damian Wilton who is now her husband of seven years. This is a reminiscent chat with one of Australia’s most successful female jockeys.