Jockey Brooke Sweeney hit fast forward on her career achievements with a win on each of her rides at Albury on Saturday.
“I’ve ridden doubles but I’d never had a treble and that was my next step, and all of a sudden I got four,” Sweeney said.
The apprentice dominated the seven-race meeting, with three winners for her father Phil – giving him his first hat-trick at one meeting – and another for Kilmore trainer Erin Maher.
“All of Dad’s were close and they dug really deep for me, which is great,” Brooke said.
The milestone comes after a tumultuous year.
Apprenticed to John Ledger at Wangaratta, Brooke went home to Jerilderie six months ago, on loan to her father, to continue her recovery from a fall at Wodonga.
“I had two months not riding – I was severely concussed and I also sprained my ankle, bruised the bone and tore all my ligaments,” Brooke said.
Laid up for six weeks, the 21-year old said the enforced break was probably a good thing although it was a long road back to fitness.
“She’s riding quite well, she was very effective (at Albury),” Phil said.
“We just needed her to come home after she had that fall, to regroup and try to get back on track.”
The Sweeneys knew they were in for a good day when $61 chance Gentleman Charlie won the opening race.
“I just thought it was the right maiden,” Phil said.
“They didn’t give me a chance, the bookies, but that’s only their opinion.”
Tolstoy ($4) scored narrowly to give the Sweeneys their second winner.
“He just got his head down at the right time,” Phil said of the five-year old which has now won three from three.
“He’s done a great job that horse. He came to me fatter than me, and with a bit of baggage, but he’s turned the corner.”
Brooke brought up her hat-trick on Maher’s Me and You ($5), which got out to a huge lead and hung on in the Boss Better Living Systems Class 1 (1400m).
“It didn’t go to plan at all but I had no hope of holding it,” Brooke said.
“It was walking the last 400m and I thought they’ll catch me pretty quick.”
It was a different story in the Just Safes Australia Class 1 (1400m) when Our Project ($3.80 fav) lifted in the last couple of strides to beat Cha Cha King.
“He’s a quality horse, he’s just been dogged by bad barriers,” Phil said.
The trainer said the treble was a reward for his staff.
“It’s good for the team because there’s a lot of people involved to get these horses to that state.”
Tumut trainer Kerry Weir and apprentice Megan Taylor enjoyed success with Oh So Touchable ($8) making it two wins in three starts while Nick Heywood won the last for Brian Cox.
