Mum’s the word for winning Doomben jockey

Rikki Palmer after winning on Shauquin.
Mother-of-two Rikki Palmer has ridden Shauquin to an all-the-way victory at Doomben.

Talented jockey Rikki Palmer made a successful return to metropolitan riding after having her second child with an all-the-way win on Shauquin at Doomben on Saturday.

Shauquin ($11), who is trained by her former master and good friend Harold Norman, gave Palmer one of the biggest thrills of her career with the win.

Palmer, who is married to jockey Matt Palmer, mixes race riding with raising two girls Maci, 2-1/2, and Piper who is four months old.

“I love race riding and have never thought of giving it up. I was out of the saddle for a lot longer after my first birth but I was also recovering from injury that time,” Palmer said.

“This time I had my last ride in October and was back in June. I have since ridden a winner at Beaudesert but this was my first ride back in the city.”

Shauquin is trained by Harold Norman, who is recovering from a knee replacement last month.

“I love it when Rikki wins because she has been such a hard worker even when she came out of her apprenticeship a few months back,” Norman said.

“She deserves all of the success she can get. And I can tip you something else – don’t get a knee replacement unless you can stand pain.”

Shauqin races in the former colours of the late Dr Jack Wooldridge who had Queensland Cup winner Kugelhopf and Grafton Cup winner Count Scenario with Norman.

“When Dr Wooldridge died his family decided not to race any more horses and gave the colours to me. I have given the colours to Peter Wigham who races a few horses with me and he has had plenty of luck with them.”

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