Former steward Lacey Morrison wins Cairns Amateurs Cup with Cashin’ Chex after eight-year riding hiatus

Lacey Morrison is studying to become a nurse and even tried a career as a steward before returning to riding after eight years to land the Cairns Amateurs Cup on Saturday.

Lacey Morrison is all smiles after riding Cashin' Chex to victory in the Cairns Amateurs Cup on Saturday. Picture: Talas Busch

Jockey Lacey Morrison once pursued a career as a steward in racing, however on Saturday she was laying down the law in a different way when she produced a riding masterclass to win the Cairns Amateurs Cup aboard Cashin’ Chex.

Morrison suffered a shocking fall earlier in her career which eventually led her to take eight years off riding, which saw her become a steward and even try a career in training, before eventually returning to riding in an attempt to fund a university degree.

The popular jockey one day plans to become a nurse, however she was the toast of Far North Queensland on Saturday when she denied hot favourite Mahagoni a Cairns Cup-Cairns Amateurs Cup double in a driving finish.

Morrison landed the $87,000 winners cheque for trainer Drew Crouch in the process in what was her biggest win since returning to riding and will pay off a big chunk of her nursing degree bill.

CASHIN CHEX cashes in on the Cairns Amateurs Cup! 🏆

Jockey Lacey Morrison continues her spectacular form in the saddle, saluting aboard the eight-year-old for Townsville trainer Drew Crouch 👏 @CairnsAmateurs#QLDisRacingpic.twitter.com/6c0Avbjd7o

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) September 14, 2024

“It’s my biggest win since I have come back riding,” she said.

“I have done everything, I was a steward, a trainer and I went to uni, I had eight years off riding and now here I am back.

“I came back to fund my study at uni, I am studying nursing and I am nearly finished.

“Eventually I will quit riding to become a nurse.

“I didn’t ride for eight years and I have been back three now, this is the biggest win since then.”

With the Lindsay Gough-trained Mahagoni ($2.25) well supported in betting, many rivals conceded they were racing for second place in North Queensland’s best race, however Morrison had other ideas as the eight-year-old was able to go two better than his third placing in the Mackay Cup in August.

“I just love cups races, I am rapt to get a good ride in one and to do a good job on it,” Morrison said.

“He was so effective being ridden a bit better today.”

Cashin' Chex and Lacey Morrison race away to win the Cairns Amateurs Cup. Picture: Talas Busch

Meanwhile, North Queensland racing giant Tom Hedley notched up his seventh winner of the two-day Cairns Amateurs carnival when Prime Ruler produced a late surge to win the Amateurs Sprint under jockey Sean Cormack.

Hedley took a six-strong team into the $75,000 feature and managed to get the cash with a stirring performance.

The Trevor and Peter Rowe-trained Smart Image defied a savage betting drift to only be narrowly beaten while carrying the grandstand weight of 60.5kg for jockey Ash Butler.

With four winners on Friday, Hedley confirmed his status as North Queensland’s dominant force over the carnival by backing it up in Saturday.

However, it could be his last, with the property tycoon saying he is ready to downsize his team of 100-plus horses in the near future.

Originally published as Former steward Lacey Morrison wins Cairns Amateurs Cup with Cashin’ Chex after eight-year riding hiatus