Priscilla Schmidt quits Queensland for hometown return to Port Macquarie

POPULAR apprentice Priscilla Schmidt will leave Queensland next month so she can ride full time from her home town of Port Macquarie.

Priscilla Schmidt (third from right) with fellow females apprentice jockeys (from left) J

POPULAR apprentice Priscilla Schmidt is set to leave Queensland next month to take up an opportunity to ride full time from her home town of Port Macquarie.

Schmidt has four rides at Eagle Farm today and said she would return sporadically during the winter carnival to ride the Darren Bell trained filly Navelina, but her future now lies in the south.

“Obviously I know a lot of people from growing up and also riding regularly down there and a few trainers have approached me to come back,” Schmidt said.

“I’m finding I’ve been struggling to get quality rides and rides in general here in Queensland, so it seemed too good an opportunity to turn down.”

Schmidt gained a 12 month extension on her apprenticeship owing to two long term leg injuries, but she comes out of her time in December.

She still claims 2kg in the city but has lost both her country and provincial claims.

“I won’t have a claim when I go back, but I’ve been used to that for quite a while now,” she said.

Schmidt’s sister Cassie will remain in Brisbane under the guidance of their father Dwayne.