As a rookie in any sport, reaching your first milestone can be important to your confidence and career.
In football parlance it could be your first game or first goal. As a cricketer, reaching a century can entrench your position in the team.
There are such fine margins between success and failure at the elite level of sport.
Reaching that personal goal or achievement is the kick-start can help propel your career.
On the flipside if those kickalongs don’t come early doubts and frustrations can creep in.
Luke Campbell is a rookie in his chosen career: racing. He is now well on his way to carving out a successful career in the saddle as a jockey.
It’s a job that he dreamed of getting into since he was five and one that he pursued after giving up an apprenticeship in air conditioning refrigeration and engineering.
Wise heads in racing will tell you that the likeable young man has the determination, discipline, work ethic and importantly, the skill set, to become a very good rider in WA and beyond.
Indentured to WA Racing Hall Of Fame inductee, Neville Parnham, Campbell is in good hands and can ask of no better mentor to guide him along racing’s path.
But after the buzz and excitement of making his riding debut in January had faded, Campbell, keen to make his mark, was running out of patience.
He was desperate to experience the elation of booting home his first winner.
That euphoria did arrive on the Colin Webster-trained Super Teroitoa at York in March, and as luck would happen, he followed up with Rhino Buster a race later.
Less than a week later he scored his first city win on Wunderkind at Ascot.
Campbell is now well underway in his chosen sport and is regarded as one of WA’s top apprentices.
But the budding talent admitted in the build up to his maiden success at York he was having private doubts.
After more than 50 rides without winning, his frustration levels were mounting, his pride deflated.
It took sage advice from a champion jockey, who went through a similar experience as an apprentice, to allay his concerns.
“At York I had eight races and eight rides,” Campbell told The Races WA.
“My best rides were from one to six and I ended up winning races seven and eight.
“After race six I was cooking a little bit and I was pretty upset.
“I had Chris Parnham come up to me and he said mate, you are riding fine.
“He said don’t worry, it will come and lucky enough it did.
“I think it took him 65 rides or something and it took me 66 or 67 for that first win.
“But I’m really lucky to be in the stable I have with Mr Parnham.
“His three boys Stevie, Brad and Chris are always helping me and leading me on the right track.
“I’m very fortunate in that way.”
Campbell’s growing stature was recognised yesterday (Tuesday) when he was crowned most Promising Junior Rider at the WA Apprentice’s Awards at Ascot.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Jockey Coach, John Claite, said Campbell was a deserving recipient of the award.
“He has shown natural ability from the start,” Claite said.
“It looks like he has been riding all his life.
“He has come along in leaps and bounds.
“He has a bright future in racing.”
Other award winners:
Trainee Of The Year-Cassey Martinan.
Best All Round Apprentice-Laqdar Ramoly.
Leading Metropolitan-Laqdar Ramoly.
Leading Provincial-Holly Watson.
Leading Country B-Austin Galati