Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Apprentice Kerry-Gayl Robinson is all smiles aboard REGGAE RULES at Caymanas Park recently. At right is winning owner Fitzroy Glispie, the former big race jockey - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
APPRENTICE JOCKEY Kerry-Gayl Robinson has not set Caymanas Park on fire this season, but readily admits that certain factors have served to curb his enthusiasm.
The 23-year-old claiming rider, whose late father Oliver Robinson rode at Caymanas Park in the 70s and 80s, said injuries and suspensions have frustrated efforts to establish himself as a top apprentice this season, and time is running out.
Come November, Robinson who first rode at Caymanas Park in the closing weeks of 2002, along with fellow Jockeys' School graduates Paul 'Country' Francis, Oneil Mullings and Dane Nelson, among others, will no longer have apprentice status.
He will become a full-fledged jockey and making the transition won't be easy, as some promising apprentices before him have come to realise.
The young rider is mindful of this and of late, has not only stepped up his fitness programme, but refocused his sights on other positive aspects of being a good rider.
"Although I have got a few winners this season, I feel I could do better if the opportunities were open to me", stated the 2.0kg claiming rider who pushed his career tally to 36 with victory aboard odds-on favourite OLYMPIC STAR for top trainer Wayne DaCosta on June 25.
GOOD RIDES
"Apart from sustaining minor injuries and being slapped with suspensions by the Stewards, it has become a bit harder for me to get good rides on a consistent basis with Brian Harding and Wesley Henry back in town this season, Francis and Hussey riding well and Dane Nelson regaining form, not to mention the big man Trevor Simpson", he added.
Continuing, Robinson says injury has played its part in slowing his progress.
This has caused him to miss early morning exercise workouts at the track on a few occasions and being there every morning is essential to getting rides.
In addition to OLYMPIC STAR, he picked up a winning chance ride aboard REGGAE RULES in the midweek feature for the W. 'Billy' Pick Memorial Cup on June 22, replacing fellow apprentice Patrick Henry Jr. who was involved in a spill earlier on the programme.
Robinson has ridden nine winners since the start of the season, including JAGMAR, GIRL IN GOLD, T.V. AD, LA RUDE and HI-JOE. In contrast, he rode six winners in just one month - December - last year. Despite this, he continues to smile.
DON'T GAMBLE
"People say I smile a lot whenever I win races, but it is just a joy for me. I ride every horse to win and a don't gamble ... I just ride for my cheque", he confessed.
In a way, he feels his present predicament is just part of the game.
"Every jockey at some time goes through a slow period. You have to be able to rebound and with the help of my agent, Burt, I intend to do just that".
Robinson has ridden winners for nearly all the major trainers at Caymanas Park, including DaCosta, Richard Azan, Percy Hussey, Dwight Chen, Noel Ennevor and of course, 14-time champion Philip Feanny who has provided him with quite a few.
Indeed, it was Feanny who gave him his first winning ride aboard PHANTOM J in a straight five race on March 15, 2003, the chestnut colt winning at odds of 16-1. And PHANTOM J followed up two months later with Robinson again in the saddle, this time at odds of 15-1 for trainer Dennis Lee.
A past student of Penwood Secondary School in Waterhouse, Robinson who hails from Portsmouth in the Portmore Community, got his break in racing in early 2002 when he was enrolled at the Jockeys' School on the recommendation of trainer Andrew Nunes before he migrated to Barbados.
Prior to his association with Nunes, he did time with trainer Garett Arscott, initially, then the late Earl Adams and Jose Pinchin. Each in their own way has played a part in his development and he is thankful to them.
Robinson, who lists his hobbies as football and basketball, has secured four rides on tomorrow's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park. And chances are he could have a good price winner among them. He's keeping the faith.
