QLD has produced a few very good apprentice jockey’s over the last decade and when a good judge in Taron Clarke (photos also courtesy of Taron) told me about a young bloke named Braydn Swaffer who may be heading to the big smoke from North QLD I had to take the opportunity to interview the rising star and get to know a bit of his background.
Braydn has been riding very well and a move south is on the cards to work under Pat Duff, on loan for a three month stint. He is currently apprenticed to Trevor Rowe and is only 17 years old but it’s easy to know that he is a mature young bloke simply by talking to him over the phone. He has been riding horses most of his life and has been race riding for just over a year now. He has just a few more winners to outride his 3kg provincial claim and is a natural lightweight being able to ride at 50kg. 
“I started at pony club and that stuff. As the years go on you get a bit bored with it and I ended up getting into rodeo’s and bull riding. Then my farrier Terry Cant said to get into trackwork and I’ll introduce you to Trevor, so I went down and met Trevor and went from there pretty much.” Swaffer told me.
Many people may question a young bloke getting homesick but I don’t think that will be a factor at all. “I’m not worried about the whole moving away from home thing. I’ve done stints on stations and that before and it hasn’t worried me as I started working at a young age.” Braydn said.
I actually talked to Braydn last week when he rode 3 or 4 seconds. I commented that it’s better than 3rd, but he has the killer instinct and said “it’s the first loser”. That’s something that is hard to teach, but being a country boy it all comes naturally. You can tell by the way he talks he has that great bush work ethic and he is keen to improve his skills and learn from those mentoring him. I can’t wait to see how he goes down here and from all reports he couldn’t be in better hands than Pat Duff.
Good luck to Braydn Swaffer and I am sure you will be hearing more of this young fella shortly.
