She hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side, Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough, Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride, The girls that holds her own is good enough. And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home, Where the river runs those giant hills between; I have seen full many horsewomen since I first commenced to roam, But nowhere yet such horsewomen have I seen.
Molly Bourke is a 19-year-old apprentice jockey who was born and raised in the famous timber town of Tumbaraumba, on the southern slopes of the Snowy River, where they reckon The Man came from.
The way she rode at Wagga yesterday I’d say that young Molly – who I am told is a lovely young kid – is probably that bloke who caught the Colt From Old Regret’s great-great granddaughter, for she demonstrates the same sort of skills as her famous ancestor whose feats were written large in Australian history by the Banjo.
Yesterday the Girl From Snowy River bagged a treble at Wagga, her first hat trick after only just two years of riding, and she did it on fair priced horses again real good quality senior riders too. One of her winners was $13 in the betting, and the other two were $5.50 and $6.50, so if you followed Molly in her five rides you would have won a fortune.
The triple kill was enough to knock off Ms Bourke’s 2 kilo claim, but the way that this youngster rides I doubt that will prove any impediment to getting mounts. Trainers down the Riverina way would be mad not to put her on.
Good on you Molly!
I am sure there will be many more.