Azzopardi relishes her time back in the saddle
After sitting on the sidelines for four months with a back injury, Chloe Azzopardi was more determined than ever to succeed in the saddle.
A bulging disc in her back floored the young apprentice last November, just as she started to establish herself with a string of provincial and country winners.
“You don’t really realise how much you miss it until you’re out,” Azzopardi said.
“I was really looking forward to the Ascot carnival.
“It was really bad timing.”
That low point is now a distant memory for Azzopardi.
She made her comeback in April, celebrated her 18th birthday later that month and rode her first winner since the injury at Northam on May 3.
Rebel King’s brilliant win at Belmont Park last Saturday was the icing on the cake for Azzopardi.
“It just puts you on cloud nine,” Azzopardi said. “It’s given me a lot of confidence and makes me want to strive to do more.
“There was a lot of pressure on, but it paid off.”
Azzopardi, who rode her first Saturday winner in July last year, never panicked despite sitting three-wide throughout on Rebel King.
It was a breakthrough win for the talented three-year-old, following luckless defeats at his previous two starts.
Darren McAuliffe, the trainer of Rebel King, has been one of Azzopardi’s biggest supporters.
“I ride trackwork for him three times a week,” Azzopardi said.
“He gives me a lot of rides so I try to help him out as much as I can.”
