3 minute read
From Ipswich to Esk and then on to Toowoomba – it sounds like a leisurely drive through towns to the west of Brisbane.
For Darling Downs apprentice rider Alisha Donald, it was the Saturday drive – and rides – of a lifetime.
The 25-year-old hoop recorded the rare milestone of striking winners at three different tracks on the same day on Saturday afternoon.
Jockeys in the Sunshine State riding at as many as three race meetings in a day is nothing new but for the lightweight rider, it was the first time she had attempted the feat.
And, to find success at each meeting – on top of all the scurrying in the car to make it to the next track in time – it is a day that Donald will not forget any time soon.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing," the Toowoomba-based rider said.
To make it even more special, Donald's parents made it to Clifford Park on Saturday evening to watch her round out the trifecta of track winners.
Donald was born into a family with two jockeys as parents with her father former Queensland hoop Darren Donald and mum Kathy.
"It is a pretty good milestone and my parents were there, so that makes it even more special," she said.
"Mum finished her apprenticeship as a jockey, but got a little bit heavy, while Dad rode in Brisbane a little bit, but he was a little bit heavy, as well.
"They both turned up and obviously my partner Corey Geran he was on it from when the day started, he sent me a message straight after the Ipswich winner saying one track down, two to go.
"I have a lot of friends in racing which makes it great as they are all so supportive."
Hayai Uma for trainer Pat Webster kicked the day off in perfect fashion at Ipswich before Donald headed north to Esk where she scored aboard Gypsy Power at the non-TAB race day for Shaun Dwyer (Jnr).
The Ipswich winner came at 11:49am before returning to the winner's enclosure at Esk at 3:10pm.
It was then on to Clifford Park for the evening meeting.
While it sounds like a lot of driving for one day, Donald says she was hardly pressed for time and was barely rushing at all.
It was about 50 minutes for her behind the wheel between Ipswich and Esk and then a tick over an hour to get to Toowoomba from Esk.
"It is pretty hard and I was tired and cranky by the last race from Toowoomba," she said with a laugh.
"I have got a really, really good manager (Clinton Childs) who helps me out a lot and makes sure that I do not have to stress about times and everything, which makes it even better.
"I leave it all to him and don't have to worry about too much."
It was Webster again who provided the third victory, That's An Extra in three-year-old maiden grade.
The third for the day came in Donald's first ride on the Toowoomba program – being the third race at 6:36pm – and while she had four more engagements later in the meeting, she could not add to her incredible achievement.
When doing the form prior to the massive day of commitments, Donald felt she could be in for a strong day.
"I had a pretty good idea as most my rides were pretty good on Saturday," she said.
"I did not think they would all win but once I got the winner at Esk, I thought today could be the day where I get three at different tracks."
Donald is indentured to Group 1-winning trainer Rex Lipp.
She grew up in Gympie before making the move to Central Queensland to start her riding journey in Rockhampton and has since relocated to the Darling Downs.
"I am really happy how with how I am going at the moment," she said.
"I have just come back from an injury and I have been very well looked after by Rex, Matty Kropp and Corey.
"I could not have done it without them, really. I am very, very lucky."
Donald heads to Warwick on Tuesday with four rides as she aims to keep the positive results coming.
Queensland jockey Brad Stewart achieved the feat of three winners in a day back in 2014 when he was successful at Doomben, Gold Coast and Toowoomba on one Saturday.
