Skye Bogenhuber ready for Perth debut

Jockey Skye Bogenhuber. Photo courtesy Ross Stevenson.

Former Toowoomba jockey Skye Bogenhuber hopes to start the next phase of her career in Perth as early as next week.

Bogenhuber moved to Perth last month to be with her partner Chris Nation who is the new track manager at Perth’s Ascot and Belmont tracks.

Since 2008, Bogenhuber has won the Toowoomba premiership five times.

Bogenhuber was the first female rider to win the Weetwood Handicap on Miss Imagica for trainer Michael Nolan in 2013.

She is also the only female rider to have secured Toowoomba’s feature double after her 2013 Toowoomba Cup on Bang On.

Bogenhuber, who has ridden nearly 1000 winners, had planned to stay in Toowoomba until the end of the season in an effort to win a sixth title.

“I was missing Chris and I felt it was the right time to go. It was hard to leave because of the friendships and support I have got from so many trainers and racing people in Toowoomba,” Bogenhuber said.

She has had the past few weeks off from riding but has visited several West Australian tracks and is impressed with the set-up.

“I plan to start riding work again on Thursday. But I walk around at 49kg and have been exercising and running,” she said.

“I obviously won’t be riding this weekend. But I hope to get some rides next Wednesday or Saturday,” she said.

“I am looking forward to the challenge in Perth where racing is strong. I will have to start at the bottom and work my up. It will be different from Toowoomba where I really had the pick of the rides.”

One jockey she will be asking for advice is Perth’s premier rider William Pike.

“I have followed his career because Perth races at the same time as our Toowoomba meetings which are at night. He is a bit of a hero of mine and hopefully he can give me a few tips,” she said.

Credit: AAP

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