Inside Headquarters Issue 2 2023

FEATURE

(Aaron Francis/News Corp)

“We are like family. We’ve been through a lot together and I’m grateful to him for the opportunities I’ve been given. Ciaron took a leap of faith in me as an assistant trainer but it has worked out.” Yeomans has recently announced the next chapter in her racing life. She will take out her trainer’s license and join Lloyd Kennewell as co-trainer at Kennewell Racing from 1 August. Based just a short walk from Lucy’s current base at Ciaron Maher Racing, Lloyd Kennewell’s stable is home to exciting young horses such as I Am Unstoppable and Flemington winner Meridius.

“But I thought it would just heal eventually and I’d be fine. Injuries are part of this sport. However, 18 months later I was still using a walking stick. I saw multiple specialists, had two lots of surgery and it was life-changing because I couldn’t ride like I used to. “Ciaron asked me what I wanted to do and said they’d find a role for me. At the time he had an assistant trainer who was leaving and I put up my hand for that job.” It was a working relationship that has been mutually rewarding and beneficial. “After all these years of working together, we understood how the other person works. Ciaron is relaxed and lets people do their thing and I’m a bit of a control freak who likes to plan a week in advance!” laughs Yeomans.

She then became a freelance track rider for the Aldersons and multiple trainers, until ten years ago when mutual friends introduced her to Ciaron Maher. Yeomans became Maher’s travelling foreman, taking his horses to races in Queensland and Sydney and her eventing career was put on the backburner. However, an accident at the trotting ring at Rosehill five years ago threw Yeomans’ career off track once more. “I was at the Sydney Carnival with a few of Ciaron’s horses when a horse came past me, double-barrelled and kicked me flush in the shin. As I got off my horse, I realised that my leg was flopping around. My parents had to fly up to Sydney because I was in a pretty bad way,” she said.

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INSIDE HEADQUARTERS ISSUE 2 2023

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