Lachlan Neindorf is back riding better than ever before after coming close to walking away from the sport at the end of 2022. An enforced break, and the support of his team has helped him get his head in a good space, and he’s never been riding better.
“It’s a good time to be in form with the Carnival coming up, and not long ago I had a bit of a break, I was getting a little bit fried from racing,” Neindorf said.
“I just needed a bit of a break and to get my head space together because at the end of the day it’s more of a mental game than a physical game, and when I came back I got my weight under control.
“It’s the best my weight has ever been in my riding career, and the best my mental health has ever been and it makes a big difference if you’re not losing two kilos a week every race meeting. To go to the races with an open mindset can make a huge difference,” he said.
Fresh off riding five winners over the weekend, Neindorf is the form rider in SA and sits just four wins behind Jake Toeroek on the South Australian Metro Jockey Premiership.
The 21-year-old’s come a long way since he “broke down” at a mid-week meet at Balaklava in December and admits he came close to throwing it all away.
“I went to track work the next morning and I remember speaking to Damo (Moyle) and saying I just need a break, I can’t say when I’m going to be back and he said that’s alright and I went up to Queensland and had a bit of a break but after a couple of weeks, that bug to get back hits you a little bit.
“I wasn’t in all honesty ready to come back as soon as I did. Mentally I wasn’t right and that showed in my riding. I came back and I got suspended three times in two weeks and it was disgraceful really.
“And that break then over Christmas and New Year when that put me out more than a month, that really helped me and it was the break I really needed. When I came back, mentally I was all put together again and ready to go.”
Neindorf has 10 rides at Morphettville on Saturday, and needs just three wins to outride his claim.
And with an 18% winning ratio from his last 50 rides, the fourth year apprentice will outride claim well ahead of schedule.
“It puts you in the big pond so to speak with all the other seniors which is frightening the thought of it a little bit,” he said.
“But it still comes down to the support from the trainers and I’ve been getting that support on Wednesday’s and Sundays where I don’t have a claim, and obviously Sunday riding a treble without having a claim it’s on a level playing field and I hope that can transition into town as well.
“I’ve got the right team around me I think to keep the momentum going and that’s what it’s all about, flowing that momentum from apprentice to a senior.
“As an apprentice coming into a senior as well it would be good in my first real season back in Adelaide to win that,” Neindorf said when asked about the jockey premiership.
“I’d be lying to say it’s not in the back of my mind, but it’s not on my mind so to speak. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to win it. I’m sure that’s the same scenario with Jake but at the end of the day our job is to go out there for the owners and trainers and win races and I keep that in the back of my mind for sure. If it happens great, if it doesn’t I know I’ve tried my hardest,” he said.
For now Neindorf couldn’t be happier in Adelaide. He’s bought a property and a dog – a 75 kilogram Irish Wolfhound called Finley.
“It’s always good to have a hobby outside racing. Dogs are man’s best friend they say and he is really good and just clears your head to get out and about and walk the dog.
“He doesn’t tickle when he sits on you. He thinks he’s the size of a Chihuahua, it’s not the most enjoyable when that happens, but he’s lovely natured,” Neindorf said.
“My whole team is in Adelaide, I’ve got a great manager in Damien Wilton. I love Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle. It’s just really for me a real nice congregation of my team that helps me succeed here.
“I’m not saying when I go to Melbourne that falls apart, it’s just that I’m comfortable here and I think I need to find my feet again, and Melbourne might be on the cards in a couple more years,” he said.
