Sport
14 November, 2025
No beach party for racing's rising star at Julia Creek Cup
Queensland's in-form apprentice jockey Maddie Mankelow is hoping for another big day on Saturday.
As the party heats up at McIntyre Park tomorrow afternoon, Maddie Mankelow will be back in the horse truck – hopefully with the Julia Creek Cup to her name – as she prepares to make the long trip home to Barcaldine.
That's the price of success for Mankelow, who has emerged as one of the rising stars of Queensland's riding ranks after a slow start to her career.
So while she won't stick around to enjoy the famous Julia Creek Beach Party after her five rides, the 23-year-old hopes there are many more rewards on offer for her dedication.
Now apprenticed to experienced trainer Toni Schofield and her husband Nathan, Mankelow hasn't looked back since making the move to the Outback.
"She's going super mate; we're really happy," Nathan told North West Weekly.
"She was in a stable at Toowoomba and wasn't getting much of a chance, so she started flying out this way (for rides).
"The flights and travel were costing a fair bit of money and (Maddie) just wasn't that happy.
"She came out on the Injune weekend (June 14 this year) and we had her on loan for three months ... during that time, we had a fair few discussions over dinner to sign over to us."
Nathan said the decision to take Mankelow on as a full-time apprentice had been a coup for the stable.
"She's a good worker, listens and rides good trackwork," he said, with Mankelow producing 29 wins in the five months she's been based in Barcaldine.
"Now she's getting good opportunities."
Speak to Mankelow and it's clear why she's starting to emerge as one of the leading young riders in country Queensland.
In fact, she's sitting on top of the country jockeys' premiership with 24 wins in the 2025-26 season, seven clear of her nearest rival.
A typical day for the young hoop starts with a 5 o'clock alarm for trackwork, and then some time in the gym.
In the afternoons, she might help out around the stables with feeding horses or other general chores.
With only one or two race meetings to ride at each week and not a lot of nightlife in Barcy, there's plenty of downtime for Mankelow, although she says she's saving her money to buy a house for the expected future relocation to the coast.
Described by Nathan as "the most humble kid I've ever met in my life", Mankelow said she was finding it easy to remain grounded.
"It's just my nature – I'm not a very cocky person," she said.
"In racing, the wheel always spins. On Saturday, I could go without a winner.
"I don't go out there expecting to win. Horses generally do run for me, so I'm quite lucky in that aspect.
"Despite how it might look, it's not always easy and glorious. I'm also lucky to be naturally light."
On the flipside, Mankelow also shared the story of receiving abuse from a keyboard warrior who sent her a nasty message on social media after a ride at the Cloncurry TAB meeting didn't go to plan.
"I ran second on Northumbria ... I was stuck behind a wall of horses and couldn't get a run," she said.
"I got an abusive message from someone. Nathan actually rang them to give them an earful but they quickly blocked him."
Mankelow said she shrugged off the criticism.
"If they think they can do better, they can come and give it a go," she laughed.
One disadvantage of being based in a remote area is the lack of direct support services that apprentices are offered in the south-east corner.
Mankelow said she worked hard to improve with the resources available to her.
"At the gym, I do a little bit of weights but mainly a lot of cardio. I have an online PT (personal trainer) who used to be a jockey – Heidi Gillie," she said.
"I still talk quite closely to (former jockey turned coach) Robbie Fradd – at least once a week – and Carl (Spry) and Shane (Scriven) are there to talk to if I need them.
"(Semi-retired jockey) Chris Whiteley helps quite a bit, too."
The young gun, who rode four winners on the card at Corfield earlier this year and again at Richmond last month, also has a push horse in her backyard, which she uses for practice.
Makelow praised the Schofields for bringing her to Barcaldine and giving her the opportunities she craved.
"They've been so good to me," she said.
"Toni and Nathan have taken me in like I'm one of their children."
She added that she used leading Brisbane hoop Angela Jones as inspiration.
Jones famously travelled far and wide for rides as an apprentice before making it to the big time.
"She's also pretty humble," Mankelow said of her hero.
"I feel like we have a similar riding position, so hopefully, I can end up like her one day."
With the racing season about to finish in the North West and Central West, the Schofield stable would normally shut down over the summer, leaving Mankelow in limbo for several months.
However, the jockey was awarded her provincial riding licence last week, meaning the Barcaldine team will now keep some of their better horses in work to provide the fledgling rider with opportunities on the coast.
"We'll still cut the team down but still have 10 to 12 in work," Nathan confirmed.
"We have got some nice horses that we haven't produced yet, and we think horses like All England and Yukan Rose can be competitive (in the provincials).
"So we will head to the coast – Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton – and have a go at winning some better races."
The highly contentious policing of a new heat policy continues to cause a stir in the bush, but the Schofields said that local trainers wouldn't risk their horses by racing them in unsuitable conditions.
From Barcaldine, the Schofield stable has to travel far and wide for suitable races and Nathan said most trainers had developed a system to look after the welfare of their horses.
"It's a hot topic at the moment, pardon the pun," he said.
"There are no rules on how you do it but we find a six-hour day is just about enough," he said of breaking up journeys across two days to get to far-flung meetings.
"Toni used to travel from Atherton to Townsville to race. She'd go the day before, race, then go home the day after.
"Horses adapt (to the heat). You've just got to look after them. We bring a fan most places and do extra hosing. They don't suffer."
Nathan praised his wife for the success of the stable after what has been a strong year on the track.
"Toni has bought really well this year," he said, saying the key was to find horses that previously had form but were perhaps looking for a change in environment.
"As long as they had form somewhere, we'll look at them."
With her first provincial ride to come later this month at Rockhampton, Mankelow said she was not looking too far ahead, with her concentration firmly on riding winners at Julia Creek tomorrow.
With a strong book of five rides, she looks poised to have a big day.
Mankelow hopes the highlight comes in the last race when she partners her favourite horse, Hurricane Thunder, in the Drovers Dog Hotel-sponsored Julia Creek Cup, an Open Handicap over 1350m.
Since arriving in the Outback earlier this year, the six-year-old gelding has won four of his six races, including a second and a third.
"He's so genuine," Mankelow said of Hurricane Thunder.
"He's got such a big heart and always tries. We've won three in a row together ... I guess we just gel, if that makes sense."
Racing at McIntyre Park is scheduled to start at 12.30pm tomorrow for what is the Julia Creek Turf Club's annual Beach Races meeting.
A big crowd is expected on course in the afternoon, with the party continuing into the evening.
No doubt Mankelow will be fast asleep before the last drinks are called.
