‘My world crumbled’: How jockey Allan Chau found his groove again

Don’t let the smile of a picture-perfect treble fool you.

DON’T let the smile of a picture-perfect treble fool you.

Jockey Allan Chau doesn’t have any photos – literally – from his time at the other end of the racing spectrum.

Saturday’s joy-filled hat-trick at Aquis Park masked the long, painful journey that started with a broken neck and shattered dream six years ago.

That snapped C2 vertebra, a result of a race fall at Grafton on February 18, 2013 – the same day Black Caviar made a winning return to Flemington – plunged Chau into depths few could imagine.

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And one which, other than the odd dark memory, no one has any trace of.

“I was in a halo (neck brace) for about three months and I didn’t take any photos – I just refused to have any – and it was pretty bad days,” an emotional Chau, 32, said.

Winner of Race 6 Supergiant ridden by Allan Chau at the Gold Coast Turf Club. (Photo/Steve Holland)

“There were times my family had birthdays and were going out for dinner and I wouldn’t get out of the house.

“Of the whole time I would have gone out of the house maybe 10 times, just to go to the doctors.

“It was dark times and I was in a bad spot where I wouldn’t talk to anyone or see anyone.

“Everything crumbled on me but days like (Saturday), that’s when you appreciate it more.”

Like many who succumb to injury in an occupation filled with danger, Chau contemplated walking away.

Connections of Supergiant. (Photo/Steve Holland)

“I was having chats to the psychologist (after my injury) and I asked if I would ever come back,” he said.

“I don’t mind saying that I was pretty depressed.

“But I love racing and think it’s something I’m good at and figured I could still have a long career in front of me. It was a rough road but I haven’t looked back.

“What makes it (the treble) sweeter is you know how fast this game can bring you up and down.”

Overcoming a broken hand – and subsequent three-month layoff – suffered at last October’s Warwick Cup race day proved the catalyst for Brisbane-based Chau’s decision to in July shoot for a greater impact at Aquis Park.

“I have worked hard to get where I am and really appreciate the trainers who have helped me,” Chau said.

“It’s a funny game because when I was out (injured) no one knew who I was and I couldn’t get back on the horses that I had won on before.

“That’s when I thought I’d have a crack at the Gold Coast and in the last four months I’ve got rewards from the trainers.”

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He, too, is returning the favour ... a treble at a time.

Chau steered Michael Costa’s Devine Factor ($1.45) to a one-length win in the $21,000 Maiden Plate (1100m), backing it up on Costa’s fellow favourites Supergiant ($2.15) in the $21,000 Maiden Handicap (1400m), and Sukwhinder ($1.50) in the $21,000 Class 2 Handicap (1200m).

“I have got plenty of doubles but it was pretty exciting – I wouldn’t have got one for two years or so,” Chau said.

“I came back down to earth with race 4 (when third-placed Hearts Lifted got stuck on the rails).

“In the last race on Gillian Heinrich’s horse (Desert Knight, second) I was one length away so I could have even had five (wins), but that’s racing.

“I may have about 20 trebles before but never had four – I could have had a really, really good day.”

Race 6 winner Supergiant came in for special praise.

“He’s a very promising and exciting horse coming up for Michael Costa,” Chau said.

“Out of the three winners he impressed me the most and he’s the one who was very dominant.

“I think he’s going to be a Saturday horse in town, how much more I don’t know yet. But he has a big future.”

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