'A new chapter' - Martin Harley gets off the mark in Queensland riding stint

Martin Harley registered the first winner of his latest riding spell in Australia on Friday when steering Twyford to an easy success in a maiden plate at Ipswich racecourse in Queensland.

The 33-year-old, who has a three-year sponsorship deal from the Gold Coast Jockey Club, arrived in Brisbane three weeks ago with his fiancée Britteny, who comes from the Queensland capital.

The Classic-winning rider previously had a three-month spell in Melbourne in 2019 and has also called Hong Kong, as well as Ireland and Britain, home in recent years.

Harley, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Samitar in 2012, finished runner-up on just his second ride at Doomben two Saturdays ago and is looking forward to the new challenge.

Before departing Britain on October 31, Harley had spent the last three years in Newmarket, where he had a successful spell with John and Thady Gosden and also rode winners for Alan King, including Asymmetric in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last year.

Martin Harley (right) opened a new bed and breakfast before his departure

Harley said: "It was great to get my first winner on the board out here, where I’m being sponsored by the Gold Coast Jockey Club for three years.

"I rode in Melbourne in 2019 after I returned from Hong Kong so I’ve had a feel for it and hopefully that will stand me in good stead. I enjoyed it before out here and there’s not much happening in Britain during the winter. If it goes well, I might not be rushing back."

Harley, who recently went into business when opening a bed and breakfast in partnership with his uncle Hugo near Newmarket, added: "The racing has grown massively in Queensland and the prize-money is strong. I’m based in Brisbane, from where there are about eight tracks within an hour’s drive."

Harley could not have timed it better as the Queensland Summer Carnival kicked off at the weekend and runs until January.

He said: "My fiancée Britteny is from Brisbane and is to step into a job out here. I enjoyed my time at the Gosdens, which was a good place to be and I learnt a few things, but it’s time now to bite the bullet and begin a new chapter."

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