Erica Byrne Burke has surged further ahead in the Tasmanian Jockeys’ Premiership following a brilliant run of form, highlighted by a five-timer on Friday night and another winner in Hobart on Sunday. She now sits on 66 victories for the season, holding a commanding 20-win lead with just over three months remaining.

Since relocating to Tasmania in May 2021, to take up an apprenticeship with Adam Trinder’s stable, the Irish-born rider has compiled an impressive 226 career wins in the state. Her progress has been even more remarkable, given she spent three months sidelined last year due to visa complications.

Byrne Burke relinquished her apprentice claim in June 2023 after riding out her indentures with 80 winners in just 24 months — a testament to her rapid rise through the ranks.

Her journey into racing began in Ireland, where she enrolled as a 17-year-old at the Race Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare, the country’s premier training facility for jockeys and stable staff. Prior to that, she rode at Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre in Ashbourne, where she developed her skills through showjumping.

Despite not coming from a strong horse background, Byrne Burke always harboured ambitions of becoming a jockey. Determined to break into the industry, she gained her first taste of racing through work experience with trainer Dermot McLoughlin, which soon turned into regular weekend work in the yard. She later broadened her experience working with dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Dermot Weld.

With around 15 meetings left in the season, barring any setbacks, Byrne Burke appears firmly on track to claim the premiership. The only remaining question — can she bring up a century of winners before the season’s end?