KANE St Vincent hasn’t ridden in a race for 16 years but he’s eagerly awaiting a return to the professional ranks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Tamworth apprentice, who rode 47 winners before weight overtook him, has been training ever since, firstly in Tamworth and more recently on the Sunshine Coast with his younger brother Aiden.
Kane, 35, was home for Christmas with his father Paul and step-mother Therese and attended the Tamworth Jockey Club’s Christmas Eve meeting where he rode a trial for Tamworth trainer Mark Mason after the last race.
“I can’t pinpoint any one reason why I have decided to give it a try,” St Vincent said.
“But it’s something that’s always been at the back of my mind and wanted to do.
“My brother always reckoned I was something of a speed junkie – always wanted to gallop horses when I’ve been riding them work.
“I just love it and thought I could give it a go again.”
He’s so serious about the return he has moved from the Sunshine Coast to Wyong to ride work for Tracey Bartley.
It’s a good base for him as he also rides work for Steve Farley and Kim Waugh as well.
“I want to see if the hunger is still there and I need to get my weight down to about 58kg.
“I’m walking around comfortably at 61kg at the moment.
“I’ll see how I go losing the extra three kilos and how comfortable I feel then.
“But I do feel the best I’ve ever felt.”
St Vincent has embarked on a solid exercise program and, while he hasn’t dieted, he has lessened his food intake “and watched the kilos fall off”.
He is also hoping he will be able to return to race riding in the next few weeks.
“I was talking to Kody Nestor around at the barriers (at Tamworth) the other day,” he said.
“He asked what weight I was and I told him 61 but hoped to ride at 58kg. He said if he could do it I’d have no trouble.
“The good thing is I don’t have any ties.
“I can just see more or less where this leads me.
“There are plenty of opportunities to ride around the bush and the provincials.
“It’s not going to be easy financially but we’ll see how it goes.”
While he hopes to be able to travel throughout northern NSW he’s also thinking of a return to Queensland.
“It would be nice to ride a winner for my brother,” he said.
“That would be quite satisfying. It would be nice to be the jockey and riding for Aiden.”
