Ben Price following in footsteps of dad Simon and brother Will as an apprentice jockey
When your dad is a leading jockey and your brother a highly-promising apprentice in Victoria, joining them on the track was only a matter of time for rookie South Australian hoop Ben Price.
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There was never any doubt Ben Price wanted a life as a jockey.
When your dad is highly-regarded jockey Simon, it is no surprise his ambition is to follow in his footsteps – even if his mum Belinda wasn’t too keen on the idea.
And when your brother Will, two years his senior, is thriving as a promising apprentice for their Ballarat-based uncle Dan O’Sullivan, it only fuels his motivation to be in the saddle.
“I never thought I’d do anything different,” said Ben, a first-year apprentice.
“It was going to be a jockey or, I’m not sure what else.
“Mum was not a fan at the start, not a fan of any of us really being jockeys, but she has got her head around it now. I told her she would have to put up with it because that is what I am doing.
“Dad is a huge influence and I sit down with him after trials and go through what I can do better, what is looking good.”
A year 12 student at Immanuel College, Ben rides track work most mornings before school for his master Travis Doudle.
He straps horses at the Saturday meetings and some Wednesdays, when he has free time at school and can sneak out to the races.
Then there are apprentice academy commitments on Tuesday when he swaps school books for lessons from training supervisor Briony Moore.
“I would love to ride against dad and Will,” Ben said.
“All three of us in a race one day, that would be pretty cool.”
A few years ago we caught up with cheeky SA strapper, Ben Price who one day dreamed of being a jockey. 😛
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 26, 2020
In 2020, he has just started his apprenticeship with Travis Doudle. âï¸
Well done Ben! 🙠@TheRacesSA @DoudleRacing pic.twitter.com/RAohxAAy0a
Sister of leading Victorian jockey Dwayne Dunn and daughter-in-law of trainer and former jockey Ricky Moore, Briony rode in races for seven years and is into her fourth year working with the academy.
“I have a passion for helping the new apprentices and helping them get the most out of racing,” she said.
“Seeing their development from their first year is amazing.
“I feel we have a really good crop coming through.”
Jenna Edwards, daughter of Morphettville trainer Kristi Evans, and Felicity Atkinson, daughter of Port Augusta trainer Robbie, are also members of the academy, along with three youngsters from Hong Kong.
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