Apprentice Olivia Pickering came into the racing industry in a rather roundabout way. 
Born in New Zealand, she was raised on her parents’ farm, where she was involved with horses from a young age. 
Success in the show ring and in showjumping saw her accepted into the New Zealand Equestrian Academy when she was 16. 
After leaving the academy with certificates in equitation and harness driving, she decided she wanted a career in harness racing and began working in the industry. 
Shortly after, at age 18, she attended her first thoroughbred race meeting, “caught the bug” and brought down the curtain on her harness driving career. 
“I decided that I didn’t want to be sitting in a sulky behind the horses, I wanted to ride them,” she told me. 
Entry into the racing industry didn’t come quickly or easily so she took a job as a riding instructor until an opportunity presented itself to work for a pre-trainer. 
When her then-partner decided to move to Australia, Pickering moved with him and the pair settled at Coffs Harbour, where she soon got a job riding trackwork. 
She couldn’t believe the difference between racing in New Zealand and racing in Australia. 
“When I arrived at the trainer’s place I straightaway asked, ‘Where are the horses?’ 
“I couldn’t see any. In New Zealand all the horses are kept out in paddocks, not in stables. I had no idea how to muck out stables or how to care for stabled horses. It was all new to me.”
Following the break-up of the relationship Pickering moved to Grafton, where she went to work for trainer Shane Everson.
“I can’t thank Shane enough for all the help he’s given me these past few years. I started riding just one horse in trackwork for him, now I’m indentured to him, ride all his horses in work and have ridden 44 winners.” 
A natural lightweight, Pickering can ride at 49 kilos, claims two kilos and can be contacted for rides via Everson on 0422 617 312 or directly on 0481 160 299.
Seib strikes
She’s a part-time high school teacher who once aspired to becoming an apprentice jockey before a family tragedy saw her become a trainer instead. 
Her name is Danielle Seib and last Saturday she landed her first metropolitan winner when Assault’n’Bathory took out the Class 2 TAB Highway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. 
Jockey Nash Rawillier had to make use of his mount early in order to cross to the lead from barrier seven, but once he hit the lead, Assault’n’Bathory travelled comfortably in the heavy conditions before drawing away over the final 200 metres to win by 2¼ lengths from Who’s Shout, with Girls Are Ready third. 
It was after Seib’s father Lewis, a trainer with stables at Goulburn, died suddenly three years ago that Danielle decided on the career change. 
“Before Dad passed away, I’d planned to become an apprentice jockey after I’d finished my university degree. 
“But then I took over the team at home and continued my degree, which I finished a few months ago. 
“This is a great thrill. The horse deserved this win. He has barrier and manner problems and he can be a goose, but he’s a lovely horse at home.”
The win was a family affair as the winner was chosen by the trainer’s mother, Julie, and is part-owned by her brother and sister. 
Seib, who has only been training for three years and has just five horses in work, would dearly love to have sufficient horses in work to be able to train full-time. 
“This might help get a few more horses in the stable,” she said.
The Penz is back 
Jockey Jeff Penza made a long-awaited return to race riding at Hawkesbury last Saturday. 
The jockey had been sidelined for more than 10 months following a horrific fall at Queanbeyan in October last year.  
The fall left Penza with three broken ribs, a broken shoulder, broken elbow, broken wrists, a punctured lung and a badly broken left leg. 
“All those other injuries didn’t really matter compared to the leg,” Penza said. 
“It was pretty bad. Below the knee it was just shattered. I’ve never had anything like that before. 
“Ten months is a long time, but I just wanted to make sure my body was right. I rode at two sets of trials and felt pretty well. I’m ready to go.” 
Rallying round 
Last Saturday evening a fundraiser was held at the Western Star Hotel in Dubbo to raise money for jockey Michael Hackett, who was badly injured in a fall at the Tomingly Picnic races in April. 
Local trainer Kody Nestor declared the evening a great success, with nearly $50,000 raised through raffles and an auction of sporting memorabilia.
Cup round-up … 
In the central west of the state, last Saturday’s Gulargambone Cup was won by $2.90 favourite Zoutenant, trained at Dubbo by Dar Lunn and ridden by Michael Heagney. 
Further north on Sunday, local trainer Peter Sinclair was the toast of Moree after his galloper Upstart ($7.50), ridden by Brooke Stower, won the $40,000 Pacific National Moree Cup (1400m).
Stower and Upstart have combined for four wins from four starts this campaign.
… and more to come 
Three more country cups are set down for decision this weekend.
On Saturday in the Riverina, the Griffith Turf Club will hold a six-race meeting featuring the $20,000 Griffith Cup (2000m) while in the central west the feature is the $12,000 Mendooran Cup (1200m). 
Mudgee is the place to be Sunday for the $30,000 Black Nugget Cup (1400m), while the Gundagai-Adelong Race Club holds a seven-race card.