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By Natalie English

19-YEAR-OLD APPRENTICE AMY O’DRISCOLL IS LIVING THE DREAM AFTER HEADING OVER FROM IRELAND TO RIDE AND IS FAST MAKING WAVES WITH SIX WINNERS TO DATE

Never in her wildest dreams did Amy O’Driscoll imagine piloting a thoroughbred horse to victory in an Australian race 17,000km from home.

The Irish-born first-year apprentice powered first past the post atop Princess Halo at Albury Racing Club in just her seventh Aussie race.

It was her 10th race overall, underscoring her rapid development under the mentorship of trainer Donna Scott.

Amy O’Driscoll is interviewed after winning on Princess Halo. Image by Trackpix Photography

Despite pre-race nerves, Amy had no calculated process going into the race: “I was kind of nervous but I was just going with it,” she said.

“I didn’t really have any process going into the race to be honest – I talked to Donna, got the riding instructions off of her and just rode the mare the best I could.

“When we hit the front, I thought we’ve got a big chance here! I just roared at Princess Halo and she tried her heart out and carried me there.

“She was just perfect, I couldn’t have asked for a better horse and she just gave me a perfect ride.”

Amy’s win would not have surprised her parents. From a young age, Amy stood out among her family as the trailblazer, showing a keen interest in competitive horse riding.

Growing up in the town of Kilcullen in east central Ireland, her dreams to become a jockey were evident early on, fuelled by a lifelong love of horses.

“Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be a jockey. I’ve always been brought up around horses and I had a pony growing up – if I was ever missing you’d find me with the horses,” she said.

Amy was so determined to become a jockey she left school at just 14 to pursue her dream and joined R.A.C.E (The Racing Academy and Center of Education) where O'Driscoll gained much of her horse racing knowledge and experience.

After graduating from R.A.C.E in 2021 and completing her first ever race ride and two more following under the mentorship of Aidan Howard, Amy made a pivotal decision to seek new horizons in Australian racing.

“I just wasn’t getting the opportunities that I wanted, you know? I spoke to a few jockeys and learnt that in Australia the weight is lighter over here; I was freshly eighteen and wanted a change, so I thought that one day I’d give it a go,” she said.

Keeping her word, in 2022 Amy made the commitment to make her move to Australia under the mentorship of Donna Scott.

“Donna took me in like one of her own, she’s been absolutely great to me since I’ve been here. I couldn’t have been with anyone better,” she said.

Princess Halo and Amy O’Driscoll (cream & black colours, left) score a narrow victory at Albury. Image by Trackpix Photography

Amy started her career journey in Australia working for Malua Racing at Flemington and Danny O'Brien, before meeting Scott’s daughter Nell, who made the connection with Donna.

“After working for a couple months in Flemington I kind of just sorted my whole life out really with Nell,” she said.

O'Driscoll's elation after her first victory at Albury quickly turned to raw emotions as she spotted Donna in the crowd.

“I actually can’t explain it, I was coming in and I was looking for Donna and I was like, where’s she standing?

“Then I saw her, I just felt like I was going to cry. Donna came up and she gave me a hug and she started crying and I said, oh don’t make the tears come,” she said.

Amy’s inspiring and positive approach so early in her career has won her plenty of admirers and is a promising sign for further success.

In fact, on May 10 Amy booted home a winning double at Albury aboard Keith and Champagne Sharon for Donna Scott making it three winners from a mere 14 rides (she is now sitting on six winners from 26 rides, a startling 24% success rate).

“I’m just hoping now I can kick it off and get my name out there and to hope these trainers see that and see that I’ve ridden a few winners and give me that chance to put me on,” she said.

“All I need now is a few trainers to give me that opportunity you know? I’m going to knuckle down and just ride as much as I can and just hopefully get a few more winners throughout the year.”