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By Mark Brassel

MIKAYLA WEIR TENDS TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR BUT IF HARD WORK AND TOUGHNESS COUNT FOR ANYTHING, THE 32-YEAR-OLD WILL CONTINUE TO PUNCH ABOVE HER [52KG] WEIGHT

Hard-working jockey Mikayla Weir is one of those people that doesn’t stand still.

If she’s not constantly driving around the state picking up race rides, she’s competing in barrel racing and tending to her own horses in Long Point, not far from Singleton in the Hunter Valley.

A snippet of a typical few weeks of riding for Mikayla is an eye-opener. From 11 May to 16 June, Mikayla had 108 rides (including eight trials at Scone) for 12 winners and 22 placegetters.

Mikayla Weir: “I usually ride trackwork when I get a day off!” Image by Zani Jackman

She kicked off with six rides at Quirindi and drove 150km the next day for another six rides at Bathurst. Mikayla was then just a short 90km run to Scone for the two-day carnival and a winner on Cup Day with Copperline.

The next day she had five rides at Parkes before a long haul to Port Macquarie (691km from Parkes then 291km back home).

On 22 May she drove 764km return to Inverell races before riding at Newcastle the following day. The next day it was 458km return to Gunnedah races before two rides at Rosehill Gardens on 30 May.

She was back at Scone races the next afternoon, followed by Warren races and from there to Moree. The next morning it was 419km from Moree to Coffs Harbour and two days later to Dubbo.

Mikayla finished off the period with Scone races and barrier trials, Muswellbrook races, Warren and Tamworth races before Bathurst … anyway, you get the gist!

“I don’t mind the travelling, and I prefer to drive by myself,” Mikayla explained.

“It can get difficult trying to arrange sharing lifts with others, when I might have an early ride then have to wait around. I’d rather finish and then take off; the peace and quiet is good.”

Mikayla was raised at Oak Flats in the Illawarra region where they had an 11-acre property at Albion Park Rail: “It was a nice property that ran along the river. I wasn’t that much into horses until around nine or ten and started to compete at pony club and polo crosse.”

Mikayla is a very accomplished jockey having won at 45 different NSW racetracks and ridden a total of 664 winners and 1541 placings. She’s currently sitting on 69 NSW country winners for the season and is perched high in 4th position.

In 2021 she defeated Dylan Gibbons to claim the Racing NSW Rising Star Series, having been runner-up in 2017 and 2018.

Her first winner was Lester’s Home at Kempsey in September 2015 as a 4kg-claiming apprentice and in her résumé is a five-winner haul at Quirindi in May 2023. And there was also four at Moree in November 2019.

Mikayla’s first city win came on Nic’s Vendetta at Warwick Farm (July 2017) and she again won on him at Royal Randwick in April 2018.

Mikayla in action competing in barrel racing. Image supplied

Mikayla said her injury list is not too bad (touch wood): “I’ve had a few concussions, but my worst was when I broke my ankle at Coffs Harbour a few years back.

“There was a horse running loose and on pulling up after the post, it veered suddenly and T-boned me. I stood up and kept the leg warm by walking on it; I thought I’d be OK.

“The x-ray seemed alright, so I continued to ride for a couple of weeks and even won a few races.

“But I was in a lot of pain, so I had the ankle looked at again and it turned out to be a fractured fibula.

“Unfortunately, I’d done more damage by continuing to ride so that put me out for six months.”

In August 2025 she was involved in another race fall at Scone at the 200m when another horse shifted out with her mount clipping heels before Mikayla was thrown into the air, bouncing off the horse next to her.

It was such a spectacular fall that many people inquired on social media if Mikayla was OK.

Her mum posted: “She is sore and bruised, but well enough to eat a burger and chips for dinner, so great news …. speedy recovery girl!”

Weir’s other great love is barrel racing – a fast-paced, timed rodeo event where horse and rider run a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels to post the fastest time through the course.

“I believe riding in races and also barrel racing give me a fantastic balance,” she explained. “I love both jobs, but I can go to a race meeting with six rides and not get a winner. I can then step away and concentrate on barrel racing.

“It can be a big thrill winning at the rodeo with a horse I’ve bred, raised and ridden. And vice versa, I can go to the races and get a couple of winners which is very exciting.

“I just ensure I’m not burdened too much with one over the other and everything works out fine.

“I’ve been doing barrel racing for around 15 years and love it. The horse must be very athletic and responsive to turn quickly, and it takes a very long time to train a horse to do it well.

“I don’t ride all that much trackwork as I have my horses on the property and they need to be fed and looked after – I usually ride trackwork when I get a day off!”

Mikayla said her favourite horse is Nic’s Vendetta, especially when he scored at Randwick the second time.

“The first was great but the second time was very sentimental as there were a lot of friends and family there on the day which was cool.”

And of the current horses she rides?

“Lord Remlap … I’ve won three from three on him and he’s just back in work with Scott [Singleton].

“He’s a big, raw type who could be very good. Also, Oakfield Alaska who I won on at the Hawkesbury Stand-Alone. I’ve also ridden him three times for three wins and he’s currently spelling.”

Mikayla’s popularity in both racing and rodeo has seen her acquire support from commercial ventures.

“I’m an ambassador of Lancaster Motor Group in Singleton. They do a great job servicing my car and the number of miles I drive, that is extensive!

“And Tamworth Boot Barn supply all my clothes and attire for when I ride at the rodeos. The ‘Ranch’ float by Kara Kar; they’ve given me floats to transport my horses around.”

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