Stumbles scores first win in the saddle

When Cooper Stumbles was handing out saddlecloths at Wingatui as a child, he dreamed of sitting atop them as a jockey, so it was only fitting that his first win in that role came at the Otago track on Friday.

Now based in Matamata, where he is apprenticed to Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Stumbles made a special trip back to Otago on Friday to ride in front of his family, and he was rewarded with his first raceday victory aboard the Kelvin Tyler-trained Ripa Time in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series A – Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m).

“It was pretty special and to do it in front of my parents, who hadn’t seen me ride on raceday, was awesome,” Stumbles said. “It was very cool to have them here and I am just over the moon.

“I knew what she (Ripa Time) was capable of and I was just hoping everything went to plan, and the horse was really good. She was awesome.”

Stumbles had a sentimental start to the day when riding Sacred Mist to a third placing in the Grand Casino 1600. The mare is part-owned by his parents, Grant and Maria Stumbles, and trained by Terry Kennedy, who he used to help as a child.

“I was nervous because it was my parents’ horse, I was worried that it might not go well, but it went well,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time around Terry and Debbie Kennedy’s stable trying to help out. I was probably more of a nuisance than a help, but they have always been great to me, and it was pretty cool riding one for them today.”

Cooper was one race shy of a full book of rides on Friday, and he was appreciative of the support.

“I knew I had a few good chances going into today,” he said. “I was pretty nervous beforehand, but it worked out well and I am lucky that I have had the opportunity to ride these horses today, I am very grateful.”

Stumbles hails from racing stock, with his grandfather, John Dowling, being particularly successful in the saddle.

“My grandad, John Dowling, was a good jockey back in the day,” Stumbles said. “I am pretty sure he won the premiership as an apprentice, and he rode a lot of winners over the years.

“My uncle, Sean Dowling, and my aunty, Paula Dowling were jockeys as well.”

With racing in his blood, Stumbles followed the sport from a young age and enjoyed being a part of the action on raceday when handing out saddlecloths.

“I used to do the saddlecloths at Wingatui, and I started doing that when I was about nine or 10,” Stumbles said.

Intent on pursuing a career in the saddle, Stumbles moved north to Matamata at the tender age of 16 to follow his dream.

“I moved to work for Te Akau when I was 16 because I wanted to give it a go being a jockey, and I haven’t looked back,” he said.

“I learned to ride track work at Te Akau. I used to ride their pony around the trotting track once all the horses had worked and then slowly moved onto the sand. I worked out the hang of it and started riding a few racehorses and it has gone from there.

“It is a big operation with a lot of horses, and I am lucky to be surrounded by such great people. I owe it all to them for getting me here today and I am super grateful.

“It is pretty cool to ride some good horses in trackwork and hopefully I can get on some of them on raceday.”

Stumbles said he was also appreciative of the support from Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Benji King.

“Stephen has been great to me and has helped me so much,” he said. “I ride a bit for Benji King, he has been great to me as well. When I was riding trials, he gave me quite a few trials rides and I have built a good connection with him.”

With his first win under his belt, Stumbles is hoping he can keep the momentum going.

“Hopefully I can keep the ball rolling,” he said. “I just want to travel, make connections, and hopefully ride winners.”