07 September 2023 , 14:31
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A top jockey renowned for his association with one of the biggest stars in world horse racing has opened up on his “humble" lifestyle”
Luke Nolen rode the legendary Australian sprinter Black Caviar to 22 of her 25 victories of an undefeated career. She won a record 15 Group 1 races, most famously the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot when she was introduced to the late Queen Elizabeth in the winners' enclosure.
Nolen, 43, has ridden nearly 2,000 winners of horses who have earned over £54million in prize-money in Australia. Yet home is a small ten acre property in the countryside where he often drives around in his yellow mini which he compares to a “bathtub”.
“She might be a bit of an eyesore but she’s got plenty of character and that’s what I like about here,” he says in a film made by Ladbrokes Australia.
“She is a little mini, she is a beauty and it just reminds me of where I’ve come from a little bit.”
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Nolen explains how he was raised in the town Manangatang, in northern Victoria, which has a population of 274.
“There’s not much there,” he says. “There was no money growing up. My old man was looking for work and stuff like that. We didn’t have a lot but we didn’t miss out on anything.”
After early struggles out of his apprenticeship, Nolen’s career took off when he linked up with Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody.
“Not many of us are lucky enough to go downhill and come up the other side and I am pleased to say I was," he says.
“We just gelled from day one, I think because we are knockabout bush-battling Aussie sort of fellas. We’ve had over 850 winners together. I’ll get remembered forever in racing circles because of Black Caviar.”
Nolen and Moody now have another sprinting star in I Wish I Win who captured a Group 1 in April and is being aimed at Australia’s richest race, the £10m Everest next month.
“He’s not unlike me, he’s a bit no frills,” he said. “I can’t wait.”