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By Ray Hickson

Liam Blanch is the first to admit things weren’t right with his life when he turned his back on race riding early in 2022.

Liam Blanch after his win on Our Lioness.

It was around that time the now 24-year-old apprentice thought he was done with being a jockey. Soon after he let his weight balloon to as much as 75kg and riding trackwork was as close to racing as he wanted to be.

But a few life changing decisions and a renewed work ethic led to an emotional comeback win, just over a month after his return to the saddle, on outsider Our Lioness at Tamworth on Tuesday - his first winner since December 2021.

The Colt Prosser-trained mare hadn’t been placed in six previous starts and was sent out $31 but Blanch, who went to Tamworth for just the one ride, seized the opportunity and turned it into a moment he’s going to remember and a boost to his comeback.

“It was every emotion I had, it just hit me all at once,’’ Blanch said.

“I think it surprised everyone, I think the trainer was pretty surprised himself, but it was good and a real team effort.

“I have to thank Colt for putting me on when I told him I wanted to come back, and he gave me trial rides to get fit.

"I didn't think I'd cry, but it's good being back doing what I love."

When his good friend and boss Kody Nestor decided to close his stables in November 2021 it blindsided Blanch and no doubt contributed to losing the passion for riding.

As he reflected on it, he said it’s important for any jockey to have some drive and be sharp for their own safety and the safety of other riders and he admitted, at the time he gave it up, he simply wasn’t.

“When Kody shut down (his stable) that probably took a toll on me and I came back to Port Macquarie, and was apprenticed at Taree to Wayne Wilkes, but I wasn’t loving it,’’ Blanch said.

“I didn’t enjoy it and wasn’t interested in riding. I still rode some trackwork for Paul Shailer in Port and when Paul moved to the Gold Coast I went with him but the Gold Coast wasn’t really for me.

“I wasn’t in a good headspace, I was in a bad part of my life. I didn’t have any personal problems really but just not in the right mental space.

“You’ve got to be switched on, you’ve got to be strong, because you’ve got other riders out there and you need to have care factor in your riding. And I had no care factor.”

Blanch lost 21kg to return to the saddle and he paid particular tribute to Prosser and Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn for supporting his comeback to race riding.

With the monkey off his back, Blanch said he’ll use the win as proof he’s made the right decision and wants to continue to repay the faith of those supporting him.

“It boosts me up quite a bit and hopefully people can see I am back and I do want to get better,’’ he said.

Liam Blanch rides Our Lioness to win at Tamworth

“I’m not just here to make a wage, I want to make a good thing out of it.

“I still talk to Kody, he’s one of my best mates and he’ll always be that. I’ve got a lot of good people behind me that have been helping and a good partner that keeps me grounded.”

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