Sport
16 March, 2023
Beau Treloar accepted into Racing Victoria Apprentice Jockey Training Program
Daisy Hill local Beau Treloar is one step closer to competing with the best of the best around Australia after he was accepted into Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training Program. Treloar was one of eight inductees around the state, and will...
Daisy Hill local Beau Treloar is one step closer to competing with the best of the best around Australia after he was accepted into Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training Program.
Treloar was one of eight inductees around the state, and will now spend a year doing apprentice programs, learning about the finer aspects of horse racing as a jockey.
The former Maryborough Education Centre student is one of three family members that have now made it into Victorian jockey ranks.
After four previous attempts fell short of the mark, Treloar was ecstatic at being able to go further in his ambition to be one of the country’s elite jockeys.
“It was a massive thrill and a big weight off my shoulders. I tried out so many times. After three goes, I thought it wasn’t for me, but I thought I’d just keep trying anyway. Eventually, Racing Victoria gave me the recognition and it was very special,” he said.
“I kept working on my riding skills. I had to show them I was improving, as well as my fitness when riding. It’s not easy conditioning your body, but I was able to improve in that area.”
Treloar will be working under the Cumani Racing banner, which he joined last year as a trackwork rider at the Ballarat Turf Club.
Cumani Racing is one of the big names in the industry, with the Cumani family well-known for their ability to train established winners. Owner, Matt Cumani, is the son of famed English trainer Luca Cumani, and is the brother of horse racing commentator Francesca.
That Treloar is now under the tutelage of a big name in the industry is something that excites him.
“I joined Cumani Racing about a year ago. It’s been huge. I went there with some experience under my belt, but I needed to hit the nail on the head and brush up on a couple of things. Matt has been really good with the media side of things as well. He allowed me to improve in public speaking, and helped me become flexible with who I could ride for and bettering myself. I’ve been able to go forward since joining,” he said.
Treloar will now take on various facets in his role as an apprentice, including learning the art of being a jockey on a mechanical horse, as well as dieting — an important aspect of becoming a jockey, given the strict weight limits that need to be followed to even up the field.
“My plan is to keep on improving. We’ll have apprentice school twice a month, where we will learn on a mechanical horse there. We’ll also have a class to show the right diet and which muscles to work on when exercising. We’ll also work through the ranks, go through trials, and hopefully get approved by the skills panel at Racing Victoria, before going on to races. I’m hoping to keep kicking goals, so that I’ll be alright,” he said.
Treloar reflected on how much his mother and father played a part in getting to this position, having learned the ropes in Daisy Hill.
“Growing up, I learned a fair bit off mum and dad. We had a couple of ponies and I learned the basics from them. My family were always backing me all through my childhood,” he said.
“Being a jockey is all that I wanted to do — I didn’t have my heart set on anything else. You have to be 100 percent committed in the industry, you can’t be half-hearted. As I got into my later teens, I got a little bit taller, and I started managing my weight a little bit more. It shows how much you have to be dedicated.”
Now, Treloar is closer to achieving his ultimate goal.
In time, Treloar could be competing at Flemington, Caulfield or Mooney Valley against the best of the best in the country, including James McDonald, Jamie Kah, Damien Oliver and William Pike.
Treloar is driven by being able to learn from their experiences and the potential to compete against them.
“It would be quite daunting getting into the gates with the likes of James McDonald and Damien Oliver, among others, but it would also be really good when you get to the country meetings, learning from other jockeys. They are professionals of the sport and there’s many hall of famers riding at the moment. They’re very good to listen to. Going into the barriers and knowing how professional they are as a younger guy will show me how to be composed and having their eye on the prize. I would learn so much from them,” he said.
Short-term, Treloar would love to ride in the prestigious events at Avoca, which would represent something of a home race in front of family and friends.
“All my friends get out to events at Avoca, and I tell them I would be out one day and race in front of them. It would also be a good chance to show my skills — a lot of them don’t know much about the racing industry, they think it’s just keeping the horse in the back and going racing. They aren’t aware of how much goes into the process. It would be good to show everyone what I have learned,” he said.