3 minute read

The opportunity to race on the world stage is a dream come true for South Australian hoop Caitlin Jones, who’ll travel to Dubai to ride for trainer Will Clarken during the World Cup Carnival later this month.

Will was eager to take someone who is not only an accomplished rider, but able to relay back how the horses are handling their new surrounds.

"It's a once in a lifetime thing really, in racing and riding you dream of big stages and big events but to be invited to be part of Will Clarken's team going to Dubai is a dream come true, and it's going to be an experience to remember," Jones said.

"Obviously I was aware that the horses were invited to Dubai and Will just approached me with the idea and asked if I'd be interested in going with the horses.

"I wasn't really sure what context he meant to start with whether it was just travelling and looking after them and working them, but he made sure it was also for the purpose of race riding them so I couldn't say no to that.

"It's a big task to travel horses and Will needs to be able to liaise with me about how they're doing, what they need, and how they're feeling out on their track work. And that's also my role – to give them their morning exercise every day, and to soak up the surroundings around me and report back to Will on that."

At this point, Clarken's stable has three races each pencilled in for Parsifal and He's a Balter, and Jones will get the pick of the rides if the two horses clash in the same race.

The end goal is to get an invite to the world's richest race meeting - the Dubai World Cup on March 26, which has a total purse of $42 million with all races worth at least $1 million in prize money.

"We hope we can (gain a start on Dubai World Cup day), that would be sensational," exclaimed Jones.

"I think Parsifal is the main one, and if he is the one to perform through those three starts there is a possibility he could get invited to World Cup night which would be a huge success in itself.

"They're both genuine horses and both racing very well in Australia at the moment."

And while Clarken is the only Aussie trainer who's been invited this year, Jones is the first Australian female jockey to ride in Dubai's World Cup Carnival, and plans to enjoy the incredible facilities.

The Meydan Racecourse where she'll be spending most of her time includes the Meydan Marina and the world's first five-star trackside hotel.

The 1.5 kilometre long grandstand overlooks two race tracks, and incorporates 285 hotel rooms, restaurants, a racing museum and 72 corporate suites for entertaining. There's even a nine-hole golf course on site, and the track's interior was used as a filming location for Star Trek Beyond.

"I think a couple of females have ridden on the one night itself on World Cup night, but not actually during the carnival so I think that's where it differentiates for me.  I'll be riding during the carnival in the lead-up to that specific night," Jones said.

The media exposure in the build-up to the Dubai trip plus the added attention while Jones is over there all adds up to a golden opportunity to progress her career.   

"I'm only a year into the ranks of being a senior so to be given an opportunity on a world stage is awesome, and if I can go over there and give it my best performance I'll make some wonderful contacts.

"So it's a huge platform.

"Racing can take you anywhere in the world."