Even though Clare Lindop is arguably one of South Australia's finest jockeys, the 35-year-old was genuinely overwhelmed when she arrived at Morphettville racecourse for her comeback meeting on Wednesday.
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The dual premiership-winning rider achieved one win from four rides and claimed she was flattered and taken aback by the flurry of media attention.
"I know I've been away for four months, but to see so much media, especially the non-racing media, that were lined up to do something on me was quite amazing," she said.
"I think sometimes it's a little unfair. Over here in Adelaide we've had three of our very best jockeys go down with severe injuries and no one talks about them, but when I reappear at the racecourse I'm the centre of attention."
In early March, Lindop crashed to the ground in a race fall that saw her break 15 ribs, a collarbone and badly injure a shoulder in a raceday mishap.
"Do you know I'm 35 and this is the longest time I've been away from riding horses since I was 10.
"That's the lovely part about the job I do. I just love riding horses and I'm paid to do it.
"People asked me as I made my steady comeback at trackwork, 'was it even harder in the depths of winter' and I said even when it was raining I was still smiling.
"I deliberately made my comeback in July, because I wanted to get my raceday fitness and feel spot on for the first day in August when the new season commences," she said.
Lindop will return to Morphettville on Saturday for another book of rides but is hopeful she can be ready to be on call for some strong rides come the spring carnival.
"With my connection with the Leon Macdonald stable, the spring is looking very good. And the call could come for me to go to Melbourne to ride, so I want to be fully fit and focused.
"And if some of the team stay home, I've got my eye on a third premiership, because the two I won earlier in my career are getting further away in time," she said.
