If first impressions count for anything, you can count on well-travelled jockey Wendy Peel being back in the west and riding in Broome again this year.
Dubbo-based Peel made a hit and run raid to Broome last Saturday for the opening meeting of the season and came away charmed by the experience.
Nabbing a win would have capped a perfect weekend, but she came desperately close, and it didn’t diminish her enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Peel rode in five of the six races, launching with a third on Smokey Mountain before following up and finishing runner-up on four occasions.
“I had an absolute blast there on Saturday,” Peel said to Racing WA.
“I know I didn’t get a winner but four seconds and a third is pretty good from five rides I thought.
“It was really good and I’m pretty keen to come back towards the end of July for like the Kimberley Cup meeting and stay for the Broome Cup meeting.
“It’s a great set up there, everyone is friendly, the trainers and jockeys, it was great.
“I will try and come back for those last few bigger meetings at the end of the carnival.”
After sits on Smokey Mountain, Fast John, Starring Knight and On The Charge, Peel came closest to a knockout win on Magnaburma.
Peel had the gelding in third position and chasing stable mate and leader Deal Obtained but fell a short-neck second in a thrilling three-way end to the final race.
“I thought I nearly won the last,” Peel said.
“I was getting home well, but the stable mate beat me.
“A win would have been awesome, but I was happy to place on them.
“I was pretty happy with the results, and I think the trainers were happy too.
“They sound like they are pretty keen to put me back on if I come over again.”
Born in Scone, Peel was an accomplished show jumper and eventer, but her transition to the jockey ranks surfaced after working at Wellfield Lodge Stud in New Zealand.
In Sydney she worked for Gai Waterhouse before commencing her apprenticeship under the tutelage of Peter Robl and riding her first race on Percussion in Canberra in 2017.
Peel had the distinction of riding her first winner in a Cup race, guiding home Don’t Even Kiss Me, for trainer Scott Spackman in the Tumut Cup (1400m) at Tumbarumba.
After moving to Brisbane to continue her apprentice with Paul Butterworth, Peel landed her first city success on Canapes at Doomben.
Peel can now tick off Broome from her bucket list, but there remains one racing jurisdiction in Australia she’s pretty keen to visit.
“The only state I haven’t ridden in is South Australia,” Peel said.
“I’ll have to do that next.”
Julio Santarelli