Brooke Stower’s sudden disappearance from the northern NSW riding ranks two years ago didn’t go unnoticed. The then twenty nine year old had been a “go-to” jockey for many north and north western stables from the time she settled in Tamworth in 2019. She made a no fuss exit from NSW racing after finishing unplaced on Small Town at Newcastle on May 4th 2023. Her decision had nothing to do with a shortage of regular mounts. In fact, just two days earlier Brooke had ridden seven horses at a Gunnedah meeting, five at Armidale on Anzac Day and another six at Tamworth four days prior to that - a total of eighteen rides over the three previous meetings on her home circuit.
Brooke’s departure to regional Queensland was inspired by nothing more than “une affaire de coeur” - an affair of the heart. Her partner Aaron Willis had taken up a new job in regional Queensland overseeing four stations owned by prominent beef producers Phillip and Tania Curr. “I had to decide whether to continue my riding career in NSW or consolidate my relationship with Aaron,” Brooke recalled. “It was a no- brainer really. It came at a time when the grind of non stop racing was starting to wear me down. I made the decision to join Aaron and put racing on hold for a while. We had a great time moving between four properties - “Auckland”, “Arizona”, “Toorak” and “Eurolie”. Aaron was flat out all the time while I had some casual work. It was another world and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Brooke had been on a roll before moving to Queensland. Here's the trademark Stower smile after a win on The Lion at Tamworth 2022 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Word of Aaron’s talents in the pastoral field soon captured the attention of the Acton family, owners of several famous Queensland cattle stations including historic “Millungera” in the Gulf country about 140 kms north east of Cloncurry. Established by pioneer James Gibson in 1864, “Millungera” embraces one million acres (404,000 hectares) and is home to 35,000 head of cattle. “Aaron accepted a very kind offer from the Actons and we moved to “Millungera” in November 2023,” said Brooke. “Promotion followed pretty quickly, and he’s already in his second year as head stockman. I was fortunate to gain full time employment and you couldn’t believe how much I’ve learned. I can drive a truck, brand a weaner, dehorn cattle and do many other things I wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago.”
At the time of her arrival in Queensland Brooke had no intention of rekindling a full time riding career. She was however conscious of an occasional withdrawal symptom. She was seriously tempted when Julia Creek trainer Tanya Parry asked her to consider riding five horses at a Cloncurry meeting. Most jockeys would be stunned to learn that Brooke elected to accept Tanya’s offer without having been on a racehorse for more than four months. “I know it sounds ridiculous but hard work around the property had kept me pretty fit and my weight was surprisingly stable,” she said. “Tanya is a very good trainer and I knew she wouldn’t be putting me on any buckjumpers. I helped manage any leg burn by dropping my irons a couple of notches and I got through the ordeal surprisingly well. In fact, I had a second and two thirds and it really felt good to be back.”
Steve Hart snapped this one of Brooke Stower minutes after she'd finished third on Cracking Mo in a Randwick TAB Highway 2022 - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Brooke Stower found herself back in jockey mode after the Cloncurry experience, and couldn’t help herself when offers rolled in for a Winton meeting the following week. She finished up with five rides again, three for Parry and one each for David Rewald and Robert Burow - result three seconds and a third and the thirst for a win was mounting. It was a fortnight before the next meeting was scheduled for the region and Brooke doesn’t mind admitting she was counting the minutes. The best she could manage from four rides at Julia Creek was a third placing. Aware that the bug was really starting to bite again, she decided on a brief hiatus while giving more thought to her immediate future. She wasn’t seen at the races for more than five months.
Inevitably the lure of the racetrack prevailed and few were surprised when she locked in three rides at Mt Isa on March 9th, 2024. Again, her fitness levels surprised friends and fellow riders. Brooke managed a third placing for trainer Shryn Gabriel-Royes and was unplaced on two Tanya Parry runners. Over the next six weeks the talented jockey logged a further eighteen rides at Julia Creek, Maxwelton, Winton and Cloncurry. Happily, one of her Maxwelton rides gave her an overdue trip to the winner’s circle. She got Lady Huribel home for great supporter Tanya Parry in a 1000m maiden defeating Lingy with recently retired legend Keith Ballard on board. Once again Brooke vanished from the north west Queensland circuit, but friends knew she’d be back. This time it took a little longer than expected.
Brooke is fairly flying on comeback number 3! Here's a win on Hang Five at Mt. Isa 26/04/2025 - One of three wins on the day - courtesy Hoop Shots.
Ten and a half months passed before the part time jockey was back at the races. Once again, a solid work regime at “Millungera” had kept her fitness levels high, and her weight well in check. She resumed at Mt Isa on February 22nd with five rides, all for her biggest fan Tanya Parry. She was elated to win a 900m “scamper” on Bitterblue, and the adrenaline was flowing. It hasn’t stopped flowing since. Three months on and another nine wins have jumped onto her CV, eight from the Parry stable and one for Bevan Johnson. Those nine wins included winning trebles at Mt Isa on April 26th and May 24th.
A win on Yellowstone Beth on the sand track at Mt. Isa 26/04/2025 - courtesy Hoop Shots.
Brooke Stower’s sense of balance and innate affinity with horses stems from her association with camp drafters, a skill perfected by several members of her Toowoomba family. Her parents Ann Marie and Scott have been longtime exponents of the sport as was her late grandfather Michael Boyce Snr. It’s no surprise that Brooke is still competing successfully in north west Queensland when time permits.
Her desire to become a jockey was perhaps inspired by the notable success of her uncle Michael Boyce Jnr. Following some successful years on the Darling Downs, Michael decided on a stint in NZ where he had the good fortune to link up with a horse destined for lasting fame on both sides of the Tasman. Boyce Jnr won two races on the legendary Rough Habit - a Gr 3 at Hastings and a Gr 2 at New Plymouth. Brooke confirms that her uncle continues to enjoy his “bragging rights”.
A teenage Brooke was fortunate in being able to spend the first two years of her apprenticeship with astute Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears to whom she remains grateful for his unwavering early support. Surprisingly Tony wasn’t the trainer to supply Brooke’s all important first winning ride. The teenage apprentice was gobsmacked in 2013 when Charleville trainer Charlotte Wall offered her the opportunity to ride Mr. Fire Shoes in a 950m maiden at faraway Cunnamulla. “I knew it was a seven hour road trip but in those days I would have driven to Perth for a race ride,” said Brooke. “Happily, Mr. Fire Shoes won and I can tell you I didn’t even notice the seven hour trip back to Toowoomba.”
Mr. Fire Shoes was the first of 453 wins for the talented Stower. Here's another one - Brooke on Liberty Head noses out Our Joyeaux (Mikayla Weir) at Tamworth - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
With the blessing of Tony Sears, Brooke’s indentures were later transferred to prominent Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote who gave the Toowoomba apprentice generous support over a twelve month period. She rode 21 winners at Ipswich and Doomben collectively and made the most of a valuable opportunity. During her Brisbane stint Brooke got to ride a talented horse called Rocky King for trainer Tom Bourke. “I had five rides on him for just one win on the Sunny Coast but to this day I rate him the best horse I’ve ridden,” she said. “His record confirms what a nice horse he was. Seventeen wins and more than $600,000. Another of my favourites was The Conspirator trained by Tony Sears. I won seven races on him, five at Clifford Park.”
Brooke would finish her apprenticeship with Stephen Lee at Ballina where she quickly gained support from local trainers. At one point she contemplated staying in Ballina but eventually settled on Tamworth as her home base. She earned the respect of a wide range of north western trainers over the next four years, none more than Moree horseman Peter Sinclair. She played a major part in two winning sequences achieved by Sinclair in late 2019 both on his hometrack. The first was a five win haul, the second a four timer. Significantly Brooke Stower rode seven of those nine winners. In September of 2019 the jockey was elated to win the Moree Cup for the Sinclair stable on Upstart. “It meant a lot to Pete to win his hometown Cup and I was so thrilled to be the jockey,” recalled Brooke.
Brooke was thrilled to win the 2019 Moree Cup on Upstart for great supporter Peter Sinclair - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
With the winners currently flowing it’s hard to guess when Brooke might go off on another sabbatical. She seems fully focused at the moment and is clearly enjoying her role as a professional jockey. She made light of a long trip to Cloncurry for five rides on Saturday, three for the intensely loyal Tanya Parry, and one each for Bevan Johnson and Ray Hermann. She won the 1400m maiden for Tanya on Solar Sert and was placed in two other races.
In seeking an appropriate assessment of Brooke Stower’s talents I’m reminded of a quote from her great supporter Peter Sinclair in a 2021 podcast. “She’s reliable, as professional as they come and rides brilliantly,’ said the trainer. “She doesn’t care what price they are. She just goes out and does her best to give them every opportunity.”
Thank you Peter Sinclair. Nobody could have put it better.
Brooke lowered her Covid mask to reveal a winning smile as she returned to scale on Qukes at Grafton in 2022. She'd only just returned after a long injury enforced layoff - courtesy Trackside Photography.
(Banner image - The Stower style is perfectly illustrated in this win on Travoli at Armidale 2022 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)