5th August 2006 :
Alisha is 24 and has been working in the industry for just 5 years. She was born and bred in Brisbane, and is a real city kid. Her first introduction to a horse was when she attended the 6-Month Apprentice Jockey course run by Qld Racing when she was 20. Alisha is not really sure why she got involved, just saw the advertisement in the paper and decided to give it a go. After the course she started working for Laurie Mayfield-Smith and had her first taste of track-work riding.
Two years ago she asked Les for a job as she felt it would give her a greater opportunity to ride more horses. This year marked her first race ride, and she started well with a 2nd on Nala for Les at Beaudesert. Her first winner was not long after at Noorama on Eftpos who she backed up for another win at Flinton a few weeks later. Alisha loves to relax, and she classes catching up with friend as one of her hobbies. Word on the street is she is quite an accomplished touch football player as well. Alisha has had a couple of nasty falls recently, and knows what it's like to lay in a hospital bed. I am sure in the 4 weeks she had at Royal Brisbane recovering, thoughts would have been going through her head if it was all worth it. But to her credit she was back on the job and riding again and last weekend at Dalby rode her first double, on Danished and Young Lion.
Alisha feels the prize-money is the best part of the job, and getting up early is the least exciting aspect. She drinks plenty of Coke, and her favourite meal is a good stir-fry. Alisha rides in all of our trials and if she keeps riding winners in the country, it won't be long to we see her in the Provincials and then the Metropolitan area.
18/10/06 : Alisha wins at Nanango...
