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By Ray Hickson

Sophie Johnson can speak to the power of the word yes.

Those three letters have changed her life and not only taken her passion for horses in a new direction but brought the 31-year-old from Leicester in the UK to the other side of the world and opened her eyes about the versatility of the horse.

Sophie Johnson is loving her role as racing manager for Michael Freedman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

In seven years in Australia, having arrived in 2017 for a friend’s wedding and deciding to stay on, she has worked her way up from racing novice to Racing Manager for the Michael Freedman stable.

“I’ve just asked questions, asked for help, and taken each day as it comes and had a go at everything,’’ she said.

“Every day is a learning curve for me, I’ve just winged it so to speak, while I’ve been here. I’ve said yes to everything, tried my best with everything that has been thrown at me and, if I do it wrong, I learnt from it for next time.”

Let’s go back to the start.

Johnson had no background in the racing industry until she was a couple of months into her stay in Australia. A background in horses - yes, racehorses – no.

A youth filled with showjumping, eventing, and pony club fuelled that love for horses to the extent she completed a horse diploma at college and considered becoming a vet.

“At the time I finished my diploma, I was in the middle of competing a lot with my horse. We were doing quite well, and it all seemed to come around a bit quick,’’ she said.

“Throwing yourself into seven years at uni to be a vet I don’t think I was ready for, and I knew it was something I had to be 100% committed to.”

Prior to flying out for Cairns, Johnson had worked in retail and in home and car insurance positions and just worked with horses on the side.

A couple of months into her trip she came across a job advertisement looking for someone with some experience with horses to work in a Sydney racing stable.

Little did Johnson know that her first job in racing would be for one of its legends.

“I found a job on Gumtree, a job for a stable hand with Gai Waterhouse,’’ she said.

“It was just on the ground and I figured if I could handle horses in the UK over in Australia would be just the same. I think it was after about a week or so she asked me if I could ride and threw me on a horse at the beach. I started riding trackwork from there on.

“I had no idea who she was when I got the job. I wasn’t involved in the racing industry at home, my parents had no interest in horses, they just supported me with my love for them.

“Racing wasn’t something I had come across nor had any interest in whilst growing up.

“I was in my element to have been able to find a job working with the horses in a country I’d always wanted to visit.

“Coming from England, to be riding horses on the beach, caring for them daily in consistently fantastic weather whilst getting paid was something I could have only dreamed of as a child.”

After a few years in the Tulloch Lodge system as a foreperson, Johnson took a step back to stable hand when she accepted a role with Michael Freedman at Randwick - who was in partnership at the time with his brother Richard Freedman.

Sophie Johnson and Tommy Berry debrief after a Hawkesbury win (Pic: Bradley Photos).

That step back only lasted a short time and a job in the office came up, true to form she said yes and that’s led to her current position within the Freedman team.

This presented another chance for a learning curve.

“I remember the first time I went to saddle up on my own,’’ she said.

“I’d been with Richard a couple of times and he sent me to Goulburn to saddle up one of the Rosehill horses that I’d never even seen before.”

“He prepped me briefly with what to say in case I had to do an interview, and I think he stitched me up a little. I’m pretty sure he told them it was my first time because I had to do a pre-race and talk all about the horse and how she had been going. Complete guess work.

“Then the horse won so I had to do a post-race and I was a wreck by the end of it.”

It’s clear that the can-do attitude can take Johnson a long way. When the Freedman partnership ended, she took responsibility for the Hawkesbury stable and assisted with producing Group 1 winner Communist from there.

“I’ve never really thought how long seven years is,’’ she said.

“I don’t regret any of it, I’m happy with the time I’ve taken to be where I am. Personally I think I’ve come a long way. It just goes to show that you don’t need experience or qualifications to progress, yes it can help but determination and taking chances gets you there too.

“We’re so lucky with horses that if you can handle them and you have a real love for them, you can work with them anywhere in the world.

“We’re only a small stable with 55 in work at a time. We have an exciting team of horses and a fantastic team of staff.

“I definitely don’t want to be a trainer, Michael and I have had that discussion. He’s always throwing new things at me, keeping me on my toes and I try to keep everything running as smoothly as possible for him and the team.

“I’m extremely grateful to him for the opportunities and experiences I have been given so far. Also for his support and belief in me to progress to where I am now.”

Saying yes also led Johnson to one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

It’s how she became involved with the inaugural Tour d’Horse – a 10 day ride conducted back in January from Pokolbin to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. A 200km trip to raise funds for KIDS Foundation which aims to make a difference in child wellbeing, safety, and injury recovery.

“Michael came into my office one day and said he had an email about a ride for charity and he said we’ll do it. You’re doing it,’’ she said.

The Tour d'Horse is a cause close to Sophie Johnson's heart.

“It’s by far one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life involving a charity. The volunteers at the KIDS Foundation are incredible and their dedication to the cause is second to none.

“I loved the concept that we’re helping these children that have experienced things we could never begin to imagine. They need and deserve a better life and are truly inspiring.”

Over $500,000 was raised from the Tour d’Horse and when the event returns in 2025 it’ll coincide with the Scone Horse Festival in May and have a change that’s close to Johnson’s heart.

She has taken on a committee role overseeing the Equine Logistics for the event and is rapt that next time around all 24 slots are going to be filled by retired thoroughbreds.

“These horses are born and bred for us to race, and they owe us nothing. To be able to have them take part in the ride, whilst raising money for KIDS and showcasing their lives after racing is a perfect opportunity for us to find them the homes they deserve,” she said.

“We received an immense amount of support from the racing industry this year and I really hope that they can do the same again for 2025.”

*This article originally appeared in the September 2024 edition of the Racing NSW magazine

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