If apprentice jockey Luke Campbell is feeling a little concerned about finishing his time, then a ringing endorsement from his mentor, Neville Parnham, would help ease any nerves or apprehension.
A new era beckons for Campbell, a new chapter, but one of the hardest periods for any jockey is when they finish their apprenticeship and move into the senior ranks.
Campbell is all too aware of the pitfalls that has seen many apprentices before him fall by the wayside, some never make it and some are lost to the sport forever.
Campbell’s work ethic and talent has laid the foundations for a successful transition and he’s determined to embrace life as a senior rider with open arms.
Campbell has been afforded the luxury of being mentored by Parnham, who has successfully helped mould and shape the careers of many young riders.
Parnham is racing royalty and venerated by the industry. When he talks, people listen. There is little he doesn’t know or hasn’t experienced in racing.
With decades of experience and success, he commands respect.
Multiple Perth trainer's premierships, wins at the elite level and WA Hall Of Fame induction, Parnham is an icon of racing.
Parnham thinks Campbell has the talent and maturity to take the next step in his racing journey.
“He’s certainly becoming a nice young rider who is on the way up,” Parnham said.
“His apprenticeship is not far away from completion.
“He’s going through a transition at the moment, he’s not working in the stables, he’s out there trying to establish contacts.
“He’s got a bright future as a jockey and I do believe in the last three or four months he’s really getting smarter, which he needs to, he won’t have a claim shortly to help him along.
“He’ll need to get rides on his own merits, but he’s a good jockey and can only keep improving.”
Campbell burst onto the scene in 2022 and posted his first win aboard Super Teroitoa at York before making it a day to remember when riding Rhino Buster to victory in the next race.
He has since booted home 159 more winners including four Listed victories, twice with Mood Swings in the Grandstand Cup (1500m) and Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m).
He caught the eye of interstate watchers and headed east to Melbourne on a three-month loan to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace when they were a training partnership.
Campbell rode 14 winners in Victoria including doubles at Pakenham and Mornington and his first at Flemington on First Immortal.
His Melbourne sojourn was cut short and he returned home to Perth after he injured a knee in a fall at Sandown.
Campbell, who gave up an air con and fridge engineering apprenticeship to get into racing, is determined to make the leap to senior riding as seamless as possible.
He said Parnham's role has been enormous, his mentoring and guidance an invaluable resource for a young rider trying to make his mark in a challenging industry.
“If I wasn’t indentured to Neville throughout my apprenticeship, I wouldn’t have been successful as what I have been,” Campbell said.
“He’s played a huge part in my career, so far.
“But, it’s coming to an end the apprenticeship and the hard work starts.
“It’s time to get into gear and into reality. There’s a lot of hard work.”
Julio Santarelli