Star apprentice Cejay Graham on hunt for Stradbroke Handicap ride after ‘career changing’ win

Cejay Graham has been in brilliant riding form and the apprentice is hoping her biggest win in the saddle can lead to a big Group 1 opportunity during the Queensland winter carnival.

Boom young jockey Cejay Graham says last Saturday’s Group 2 triumph was “career changing” and she hopes having her name up in lights could lead to a lightweight opportunity in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap next month.

Graham’s win on Kintyre in the Queensland Guineas was the cream on top of a golden season so far for Graham who came to Brisbane from NSW with the dream of making it in the big smoke.

KINTYRE wins the Guineas for @GaryPortelli!

It's also a maiden Group victory for young hoop Cejay Graham 🎉#QLDisRacing🐎 pic.twitter.com/6eBfl14CV5

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) May 4, 2024

With 55 metropolitan wins for the season, the 25-year-old apprentice is virtually assured of winning the Brisbane apprentice jockeys’ title and trails only Jimmy Orman in the senior title.

She has become a talented and trusted force in Brisbane, even getting the job of giving Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Group 1 star and Doomben 10,000 favourite, I Wish I Win, a spin around the track during the week.

READ | James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Newcastle on Saturday

Graham said she can ride as light as 49kg, and she rode at 50kg only a month ago.

“I have my hand as high as it can go for a lightweight Straddy ride,” Graham said.

“I think it’s probably why I got so emotional the other day after winning the Guineas.

“Getting opportunities like that and riding winners like that is just career changing for me.

“I know how important this time of year is and opportunities like that can make or break your transition as a jockey. If I could snag a chance in the Stradbroke and ride it well, I think it would definitely open up more doors for me.

“To get opportunities in Group races over the carnival is what I’m chasing at the moment.”

READ | Moody-Coleman blueblood sets sights on Queensland carnival

Cejay Graham. Picture: Lachie Millard.

Another feather in Graham’s cap is that trainers are always happy for her to ride their horses, even in non-claiming races.

For instance, six of her seven rides on Hollindale Stakes day on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday are in races where apprentices cannot claim.

She knows it helps that she can ride light, but says she is delighted in the show of faith in her.

READ | Underdogs plot Queensland Oaks path with unfashionable filly

“There are a fair crop of other jockeys who can right light, so I’m happy that trainers are trusting me to ride their horses without the claim,” Graham said.

“I’ve only got three winners to go and then I’ve outridden my claim.

“And I come out of my time as an apprentice a week before the end of the racing season.

“I came up here to Brisbane with no expectations, but a lot of hope.I wanted to work really hard and just hope that I was given opportunities. I was lucky enough that happened quite quickly.

“It’s been overwhelming and it’s been unreal.”

What it means!

Cejay Graham you’re a ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/EIcBQ9Fnnx

— Brisbane Racing Club (@BrisRacingClub) May 4, 2024

Many of Graham’s rides on Saturday are not fancied in betting but she hopes a potentially heavy Sunshine Coast track can bring them into the equation.

Her best chance, according to betting markets, is Tony and Maddy Sears-trained sprinter Steady Ready who is a $6 chance in the $105,000 Bat Out Of Hell (1000m).

Originally published as Star apprentice Cejay Graham on hunt for Stradbroke Handicap ride after ‘career changing’ win