Scottish jockey Carly Frater-Hill arrives in Queensland to take on Gold Coast racing scene

CARLY Frater-Hill is the newest Gold Coast apprentice jockey poised to shake things up at Aquis Park. She boasts a 3kg claim and has already recorded 90 winners.

New Gold Coast apprentice Carly Frater-Hill. Picture: Supplied.

CARLY Frater-Hill is Gold Coast’s newest apprentice jockey who is poised to shake things up at Aquis Park.

The 30-year-old arrived on the Gold Coast a fortnight ago and brings a threatening combination of a 3kg claim and nearly 100 winners to her name.

“I outrode my country claim in NSW so I decided to have a crack up here because there are a lot of provincial tracks here,” Frater-Hill said.

“I have got a 3kg claim and ridden 90 winners so it’s a massive advantage. It was a no-brainer for me.”

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Frater-Hill joined Stephen Hill’s satellite stable upon her arrival in Queensland but the trainer’s decision to shut it down in order to focus on NSW racing this week left her stranded.

Lee offered Frater-Hill a position at his NSW base where she wouldn’t be able to claim at country tracks but she declined in favour of pursuing success on the Gold Coast.

“I really love the (Gold Coast) track,” Frater-Hill said.

New Gold Coast apprentice Carly Frater-Hill. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s got a great atmosphere and it’s very busy. I feel like there is a lot more opportunity here where there are more horses and trainers.”

Frater-Hill made her Gold Coast debut last week, riding three horses and securing fourth on the George Sitek-trained Choppa in her best result of the day.

Frater-Hill began her career jumping in Scotland where she met now-husband Talan Hill, the grandson of legendary Australian jockey Neville Sellwood, who won six Sydney premierships and two Melbourne Cups.

Carly Frater-Hill rode Epiffany to seventh in the Maiden Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, August 4. Mosserati (left) won comfortably. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The pair moved to Sydney in 2012 and Frater-Hill worked as a trackwork rider for Grahame Begg before starting her apprenticeship with Barbara Joseph in Canberra.

Frater-Hill spent two years working with Joseph before breaking her pelvis.

She returned the following year to ride for Neil Osborne before chasing her newest opportunity in Queensland. Frater-Hill will partner with trainer Brad Witt in the coming weeks.

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