Bianca: "How long have you been riding for?"
Nic: " In my 5th season and I think I first came in contact with horses at 17 years"
Bianca: "As an apprentice, is your main aim to ride in The Melbourne Cup?
Nic: "I think as an apprentice I firstly looked at more achievable short term goals like out riding my full claim, but winning a cup has always been in the back of my mind"
Bianca: "Because your Father (Greg Hall) was a Melbourne Cup winning jockey, did you have or feel any expectations?"
Nic: "No not really I was able to enjoy what I was doing away from the lime light due to good management"
Bianca: "How did you get a ride in The Melbourne Cup?"
Nic: "It's just as much about your connections and how you manage and maintain those healthy relations, as it is your riding ability. I think you need to have the ability of a great jockey as well as being pro active in gettting a ride"
Bianca: "How many times have you ridden in The Melbourne Cup? How old were you when you had your first ride?"
Nic: "Four times and I was 21yrs"
Bianca: "Did you seek advice on how to handle a race with such high calibre or were you pretty confident you could handle it as it was "just another race" as such?"
Nic: "I didn't seek advice but some was passed on to me through my peers and mentors. It certainly wasn't just another race it is a real experience and I was nervous, but I have always been able to harness this energy and use it positively. I believe I ride better in pressure situations"
Bianca: "Ok, so you have received a call from your manager (Adrian Coin), that you have secuerd a ride in The Melbourne Cup:-
(a) Do you do anything differently? (i.e. more training on your fitness, change your diet, ride that
particular horse more often?
(b) Do you study the form of the race? Does this help you with setting race tactics?
(c) If you are heavier then the set weight, how do you lose it?"
Nic: " (a) In terms of diet and training, one year I had to ride 49kg's aboard Red Lord I usually ride at 54kg's, this took a good 3 weeks preparation in order to be fit and at the correct weight. I began a heavy personal training regime as well as a strict diet. I started this as soon as I had confirmed the ride. More time the better."
(b) " I certainly study the form myself as well as speak to my form analysist in order to get a second opinion and between the two of us I always have some sort of a plan. I do believe there is such thing as over thinking a race, a lot has to be on feel."
(c) "Through training, diet and closer to race day some fluid loss, although you must manage this correctly and be very careful of work load and recovery time."
Bianca: "How do you handle the hype that surrounds the race and not let yourself get distracted? Does experience play a role in this, if so, do you think you have improved your ability to stay focused on the race?"
Nic: " I think it is a real advantage to have experience in this race there is no other like it, so the dynamics are very different. I was really glad that I had the opportunity to have a couple of outside chances prior to having a live chance, just so I at least had a feel for the race?"
Bianca: " It's the night before the cup, do you do anything different, any superstitions?"
Nic: " No Im exactly the same nothing changes just try and get a really early night in"
Bianca: " The morning of the race, what do you have to do?"
Nic: : Probably do 20 minutes on the bike, a couple of sessions in the sauna, then if I have anymore weight to lose its either the bath or last minute sweat at the races"
Bianca: " What happens during the meeting? If you have other rides, how do you stay focused on them?"
Nic: " Very simple, take each race as it comes, I wouldnt think to much about the cup until it's time"
Bianca: " Standing in the enclosure in front of millions of people (both live and on tv) what's running through your mind? How are your nerves?"
Nic: " It's always the same with me, my nerves settle down once I'm abord the horse. The most anxious time would be talking to owners and waiting to mount up. I usually have a good bond with the horse that I'm riding so I know his or her manor-isms and it somewhat settling to me to know that the animal is all good. That's half the battle"
Bianca: " Does the trainer give you instructions?"
Nic: "Usually for a race like that I like to talk with the trainer the night before so we are both on the same page he or she may want to reiterate a few things but I prefer not to much to be said in terms of tactics. Just the usual pre race rubbish talk"
Bianca: " What's it like having over 100,000 people in the crowd cheering for you?"
Nic: "I'm sure it would be the best feeling if you won coming back down that straight at Flemington, it really is designed for that moment. My biggest memory every year is the raw of the crowd going pat the post the first time. It's amazing how clear and loud it is"
Bianca: "How do you handle any criticisim:-
(a) of the trainer and/or owners?
(b) the media?
(c) your peers?"
Nic: " I think with criticism it is important to take it on board and really analyze it at a later date when all the emotions are in tact. I would say I am my toughest critic so I take criticism pretty well and usually have already recognized my mistakes. It's important to be able to accept that you make mistakes that's the only way you learn from them"
Bianca: " What would it mean to you to win a Melbourne Cup? Do you think it would mean more if you won a horse for your Godfather Mr Lloyd Williams or is it simply 'a win is a win' "?
Nic: " I'll take any win in a Melbourne Cup, but I suppose there is some connection with Lloyd and the whole family. It would be an added mix of emotions I believe. They say it changes your life but I plan on being able to tell you within the next 10 years"
Bianca: " Do you have any advice for someone who want to be a Melbourne Cup jockey?"
Nic: " Patience".
I would like to thank Nicholas Hall for his time in assisting myself, Rebecca and Michelle for our Melbourne Cup Blog. We wish him all the success in the future and hope he can with "the big one" soon!
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| Nicholas Hall aboard Star Witness winner of The Blue Diamond 2009 |
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| Nicholas Hall focused on the 2009 Melbourne Cup |
