Racing: Cherie continues family tradition

Cherie Hain rides Devoted at Te Rapa. Picture / Amos Chapple

When former jockey Neil Hain died in August 2003 it pushed his daughter Cherie into wanting to be an apprentice rider. Why not? The breeding was certainly there.

Neil Hain had been a longtime rider, mother Jill is a former racing journalist and older brother Daniel is a successful apprentice jockey.

But she struck a hitch.

When Cherie first approached Jim Gibbs about an indenture the Matamata trainer expressed concern about the teenager's weight. It only made her more determined.

She stayed at school to complete her sixth form year and went to a dietitian.

With her craving for forbidden red meat well under control, 17-year-old Cherie Hain makes her raceday debut on class sprinter Devoted at Te Rapa this afternoon.

By a million to one chance Devoted has drawn barrier No 1 and in barrier No 2 is probably the horse to beat, Royal Entertainer - his rider, Daniel Hain.

Brotherly love will count for nothing.

Even though a year or two older than the usual first-time apprentice, the Hamilton-born teenager exudes surprising maturity, a huge advantage when starting an apprenticeship.

Fifteen-year-olds can often lose control by becoming overawed in the spotlight of early success on the racetrack.

"I see the benefit of starting a bit later by having finished the sixth form, which will give me something to fall back on if this doesn't work."

Like most apprentices Cherie Hain started out in the equestrian field.

She rode trackwork for the Rogerson/Autridge stable during weekends and holidays and late last year regularly drove to Matamata for work experience at the Moroney stable.

She signed on with Gibbs in January.

Hain could not be starting off at a better time.

Big apprentice allowances are extremely valuable on winter tracks and trainers are keen to engage any new apprentice that displays a reasonable amount of talent.

Ryan Gartner, indentured to Mark Donoghue at Matamata, rode his first winner last week and the likes of Ryan Allwood, Daniel Hain, Lee Callaway and Corey Parish have been widely used in the north this year.

Hain says she is lucky to be kicking off on such a good horse as Devoted and is fortunate to have top class rider Cameron Lammas guiding her alongside apprentice master Jim Gibbs.

"Cameron has been fantastic. He's amazing."