Jockey Tahlia Hope’s remarkable comeback has her back at Flemington and a winning chance

To win at Flemington could hardly be considered the inevitable when jockey Tahlia Hope was fighting for her life for 12 days in ICU after suffering viral meningitis but here she is with opportunity knocking.

Tahlia Hope can’t believe she’s back riding let alone at Flemington on crack Tasmanian sprinter The Inevitable who is a $2.60 favourite to win the Ian Bayles Handicap (1000m).

Even five weeks ago, Hope doubted she would ever ride again but she put her comeback down to the constant encouragement of trainer Patrick Payne and she’s more than keen to repay his loyalty as “he’s been amazing to me”.

Hope said Payne had been pivotal to her making it back to race riding.

Already he has supplied her with her comeback winner on Zed Em at Werribee on April 4.

On Saturday the 21 year-old returns to ride at Flemington for the first time since June 22 last year and she also rides Special She Has and Strategic Demand.

Stream over 50 sports on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Tahlia Hope rides Lamborghini to victory at Caulfield last January.

Last July, Hope had to fight for her life after she suffered a bout of viral meningitis which left her in Frankston Hospital ICU for 12 days.

Even as she recovered riding again was the last thing on her mind.

Eventually Payne at the start of this year coaxed her back to riding work at his Plumpton property and she became apprenticed to him but Hope didn’t do this with the idea of returning to race riding.

“Part of me wanted to comeback, then the next minute I didn’t want to comeback.”

Eventually she warmed to the idea but even after riding trackwork for two months her weight refused to move from 65kg.

“Patrick sent me to the Gold Coast with his team in January and then I went to Tassie for a month with Home By Midnight in February and then to Adelaide.

Hope partners champion jumper Zed Em to victory at Werribee this month.

Although I was riding work and working hard the weight was going anywhere. I was still quite heavy and I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”
“At the start of March, Paddy said we’ll get you going on higher weighted horses. Two weeks before Zed Em ran I was still 59 kilos and I thought that’s not going to work. Then due to all the work I’ve been doing with jump-outs and trials and trackwork all of a sudden the weight came off quickly and I got to 55 kilos and I feel so much lighter.”

Just when she started to lose weight though another hurdle formed for her with the COVID-19 virus possibly stalling her comeback.

She thought as she had suffered viral meningitis it was unlikely she would get a clearance to ride due to her body already having struggled with its immune system.

After a series of meetings and discussions with medicos to her surprise Hope was given the all-clear to resume earlier this month and to her astonishment Payne entrusted her with a comeback ride and win on Zed Em at Werribee.

“It still gives me goose bumps to have gotten that ride and then to win on a great horse like him was unbelievable.”

Again to her surprise, Payne has shown great faith in her and she has three rides at Flemington, especially as she will ride one of Tasmania’s best horses in The Inevitable in the 1000m sprint.

Hope returns to the racetrack has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“If I could win at Flemington from where I’ve come from it would be amazing. Even half way through March I didn’t think I’d be riding again so to have this opportunity a few weeks later is also unreal.”

Hope is approaching her career differently to last year saying she had been doing too much wasting and riding which left her immune system run down.

“Patrick is also keeping a close eye on me. The main difference is that I’m going to do everything naturally and I’ve never felt fitter.”

Hope recounted the lead-up to her bout of viral meningitis.

She rode a double for Payne in Adelaide on the Saturday and three days later she rode at the Mornington jump-outs but suffered terrible headaches.

Patrick Payne has been a driving force for Hope to get back to the track.

“Then the next day I couldn’t get out of bed and I rang my parents. Next thing I know I’m in the Frankston Hospital and in ICU. I can’t really remember other than I was in a fair bit of pain”

“After that I was just out to it. It’s a bit scary to wake up and not know what happened for a few day.”

Hope then spent three months recovering at her mother’s Broadfoot home where she constantly felt tired.

Hope said she is enjoying riding a lot more as she’s finding it more enjoyable and she also feels better in herself.

MORE RACING

WEEKEND BEST BETS: FREE HIT WORTH A SHOT

DAVO’S TIPS: CLEAR PASSAGE TO VICTORY

RAY AND DUFF: TIME TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE

BEERS ALL ROUND FOR SPECIAL HORSE

Retired champion Chief De Beers is to be honoured with an international award in recognition of his off-course community service.

A former police horse, and now housed at Living Legends near Tullamarine, Chief De Beers has been selected to receive a Blue Cross Medal in recognition of community service.

Winner of 20 races at Doomben and $1.5 million in prizemoney, Chief De Beers had a “long and distinguished” post-racing career with Queensland Police and the designated Governor’s police horse.

Nominated by the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation in conjunction with the UK’s Blue Cross Fund, Chief De Beers was involved in several serious police actions, including manhunts and riot control after retiring from racing.

Living Legends CEO and veterinary director Dr Andrew Clarke said the 28-year-old gelding was a worthy recipient of the Blue Cross Medal.

Chief de Beers spent some of his retirement as a polic horse.

Chief de Beers was a dominant force in Queensland racing.

“We are very proud that Chief De Beers is receiving such deserved recognition as the recipient of the 2020 Blue Cross Australia/New Zealand Award,” Clarke said.

“He had a decorated career with Queensland Police after retiring from a very successful racing career, and life after racing has seen Chief become a very popular racing ambassador meeting and mingling with fans of all ages from primary school students to residents at seniors’ homes.

“As we pause to commemorate another ANZAC Day, it is timely to remember the sacrifices that our service men and women made for Australia while also remembering the roles hundreds of thousands of service animals have made as well.”

Clarke said Chief De Beers was also engaged in a number of searches for missing persons as well as dangerous offenders while serving with the mounted police.

The Blue Cross Medal will be produced in the UK and presented once the current COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.