She needed prompting and there was initial hesitancy, but apprentice jockey Amy Jo Hayes does not regret her decision to relocate to Australia.
It’s a long way from her Tipperary roots in Ireland, but Hayes has embraced her new life down under and believes the journey has been worth it.
“I have a sister living out here and she was doing the convincing to get me over,” Hayes told Racing WA.
“I probably wouldn’t have come otherwise, I’m very much a home bird and never left home until the age of 24, which was last year.
“When I got a bit of taste of freedom and a bit of success and a bit of sun on my back I wasn’t thinking about wanting to go home.
“I fell in love with the place, it is busy, a bit of a working holiday, but it’s something I love, I love working with horses.”
That Hayes has a love of horses should come as no surprise. It’s in her blood.
Both her parents have worked in racing and her grandfather had the distinction of having bred, 1986 Grand National winner, West Tip.
At 18, Hayes signed on as an apprentice and rode 15 winners across a four-year-stretch, the first aboard Sunset Nova at Navan three years back.
Making the landmark victory even more memorable, Sunset Nova was in last position until he poked his head in front a furlong out.
Trying to make a name for herself internationally, Hayes travelled to Australia for her first stint last year and struck up an association with Trevor Andrews.
Hayes considers herself fortunate to have been guided by good trainers in Ireland and appreciates being mentored by one of WA’s most accomplished horsemen won’t be an impediment to her career.
“His support has been enormous, definitely,” Hayes said.
“He has given me three winners now and I’ve only had six or seven rides for him.
“So at least we are building a good strike rate together.
“He’s been supportive and helping me out as much as he can.
“So does his wife, Jo, she rides out track with us as well.
“They’ve been very good to me and supportive.”
“I’m learning loads and it’s all a good experience.”
One of those Andrews-trained horses that Hayes booted home was The Agency at Bunbury last week, important as she sheds her 4kg apprentice claim
It helps Hayes secure rides on a Saturday, timely as in recent months no 3kg-claiming apprentice had qualified to ride in Perth races.
Under the rules of racing, apprentice claims start at 4kg and reduce on a sliding scale based on the number of winners ridden.
“That was my goal when I came out last September, to ride five more winners,” Hayes said.
“I had winners at home that counted towards it and at long last I finished it off.
“There were three of us out there fighting for the title to see who could get to the city first.
“Zephen Johnston-Porter and Chanelle Cooper and I got my head in front, but they are not far behind.
“We got there in the end and it’s nice to get the credit for all the hard work I did.
“I’m trying to improve as much as I can and it’s nice to get the reward.”
The young lady from Ireland is making a good fist of it in Australia.
Adjusting to a new country can throw up some challenges, but Hayes has made the transition seem easy.
She loves the racing industry, loves working with horses and has found happiness in her new environment.
With her sister domiciled locally and with a significant Irish population in Perth, Hayes hasn’t fallen to homesickness.
When pressed on whether Australia might be a permanent move down the track, the self-described homebird didn’t rule it out.
“From this moment in time I’m loving it here,” Hayes said.
“I hope to stay on, I’m not rushing back any time soon.
“I’ve been back three times in the space of six months, so, I think I’ve settled in now.”
Julio Santarelli