Darwin apprentice Emma Lines reflects on harrowing ordeal

[Wandering Eyes]

Darwin rider Emma Lines (left) doing her best to get Archie James across the line at Fannie Bay last Saturday after the saddle shifted mid-race during a heat of the National Apprentice Race Series, while fellow NT rider Jade Hampson swoops along the rails to seal a narrow win aboard Thunder Peak. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals)

She is only 16, but Darwin apprentice Emma Lines handled a potentially dangerous situation with aplomb at Fannie Bay last Saturday.

The teenager was riding the Chris Nash-trained Archie James ($2.30 fav) in the opening heat of the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) over 1200m – the second race on the five-event program – when drama unfolded.

The saddle slipped at the 600m, but somehow the four-year-old gelding was able to find the lead in the home straight before being pipped on the post by Gary Clarke’s Thunder Peak, ridden by fellow Top End apprentice Jade Hampson.

Bottom line, Lines could only manage the horse across the line denying Archie James certain victory.

In theory, Archie James settles midfield, works his way through the field, finds a gap once straightening for home and kicks clear before tiring in the closing stages as Thunder Peak rallies along the rails.

“At the 600m, I could feel the saddle shifting and I turned my head and checked behind me and it had slipped to the outside,” Lines said.

“I was trying to concentrate on keeping my line and I called out to all the apprentices to let them know.

“It was difficult to keep my mind on staying straight and trying to stay on.

“I was trying so hard, I was trying to ride him out and keep my balance.

“There was only so much I could do – I was all over the joint.

“I actually got the best run – I was so lucky that the field opened up because I was struggling to hold him with everything that was going on and then once they opened up he just took the run.

“I thought then that maybe we could win this.

“I didn’t realise Thunder Peak was there until Jade went past me.

“I was in between screaming at the horse and screaming at Jade that I can’t steer it.”

It’s not the first time that Lines, who has won five races at Fannie Bay, has suffered a similar fate.

After amazingly winning her first race in her first career start on Phil Cole’s Looking For You on December 9, Lines injured her leg when she fell from Cole’s Familja during a trial on December 20 when the saddle shifted.

Returning from injury on January 14, the apprentice guided Brazenpine home for Cole, who is her master, with the saddle slipping after the race.

“It was my second win, the saddle slipped straight after the post and I had to hop off and walk Brazenpine home,” the delightful Lines said.

“My assessor Darren Murphy from Skillinvest in South Australia said I did a pretty decent job on Saturday.

“He came to Darwin to watch and said he was pretty worried when he saw that the saddle was starting to slip.

“I was a little bit disappointed when I got beaten narrowly by Jade, but these things happen.

“I didn’t see Nashy until later, he did say that Archie James had the best run in the race – it was just unfortunate that I couldn’t give him all that I had.”

The day didn’t improve for Lines as she didn’t make it back to the enclosure after the race due to heat exhaustion.“

“I had to walk Archie James home, but the heat just got to me on the way back,” she said.

“I didn’t actually make it to the mounting yard, I went down just before I got back.

“The clerk of the course Trudie Clarke was next to me as I was walking.

“I told her that I wasn’t feeling too great and just as she grabbed Archie James I fell over – I was pretty lucky she was there.

“The paramedics took all my vitals and they took me back to the first aid room before they stood me down for the rest of the day.

“It didn’t affect me in the race or I didn’t really realise that much with all the things I had to concentrate on and the adrenalin.

“I didn’t really start to feel it until I hopped off and began walking.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been a few days and I definitely agree with their decision.

“At the time it was a bit of a slap in the face.

“I think if Phil, Rhonda (Cole’s wife) and my parents weren’t there I would have protested it, but at the end of the day it was the correct decision to make.

“I stayed and watched the rest of the races, I had a decent headache and I just felt a bit uneasy.”

As fate would have it, Lines’ remaining rides – El Magnificence, Real Reason and Bartolini – all ran a place for Alice Springs’ Ianish Luximon, Hampson and WA apprentice Cassey Martinan, respectively.

El Magnificence won, Real Reason came third behind Gary Clarke’s Doc O’Connor (Sophie Wilcock from Queensland) in the second heat for the apprentices, and Bartolini finished third.

“All my rides placed in the next three races – I said to Ianish you owe me that prizemoney,” she laughed.

“I was really keen and looking forward to all my rides on the day – it was a very unfortunate day, but there will always be another race meeting.”

In contrast, it was no laughing matter when Lines received criticism on social media following the Archie James mishap.

“They’re speaking from their pockets, I can only take it on the chin,” Lines said.

“They didn’t know the situation and I didn’t let it affect me as much as it might be hard to do.

“Did it bug me, no, not really.”

On a positive note, Lines embraced the NARS promotion and fully endorsed the concept.

“It was a really good experience, it was nice to meet a lot of apprentices from different places – they’re all very professional – I had heard of Jade Doyle (SA),” she added.

“They all had their different style of riding and I enjoyed riding against them in one big race together, it was a lot of fun and it wasn’t too different to a normal race.

“Darwin’s senior jockeys said that the series hasn’t happened in the NT for nine years, so it was pretty special to be a part of that.”

The $40,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m), one of the big races in Darwin outside Cup Carnival, is scheduled for next Saturday and Lines is likely to ride Cole’s six-year-old gelding Meadows Young Buck.

“Hopefully after a third and two seconds, I can manage to get him first across the line,” she laughed.

“Third time is the charm after my saddle issues, I think I’m ready to get some new gear.”

Darwin Race 2 – National Apprentice Race Series – 4/2/23

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