{"id":192161,"date":"2017-10-08T19:25:09","date_gmt":"2017-10-08T09:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=192161"},"modified":"2020-09-26T16:34:52","modified_gmt":"2020-09-26T06:34:52","slug":"photo-finish-for-lyalls-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/10\/08\/photo-finish-for-lyalls-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo Finish For Lyall’s Career"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Shannon<\/a>
Magda Szubanski checks out some race day photos in the mounting yard at Nanango in 2013 with jockeys Cecily Eaton and Lyall Appo (Photo: Clive Lowe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>October 8, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2013, comic-actress Magda Szubanski, who was in Nanango for the Big Screen Film Festival, relished her interactions with jockey Lyall Appo at the Lee Park races.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Appo, who turns 54 on October 17, now has a movie credit in his own right, courtesy of his stunt riding in “Pirates of the Caribbean 5 – Dead Men Tell No Tales”.<\/p>\n

The Disney feature was shot at Movieworld near the Gold Coast and was released to Australian outlets during the winter.<\/p>\n

Lyall has been hired again for an upcoming production about Truganini.<\/p>\n

The effervescent character’s horsemanship traces back to a tender age when his uncles and his father Lionel were stockmen on cattle stations.<\/p>\n

Appo’s young life was anything but hardship free, but he has been immensely proud of his indigenous heritage.<\/p>\n

Lyall’s apprenticeship, during which he secured between 60 and 70 city first placings, kicked off with Bruce Cameron at Toowoomba.<\/p>\n

His junior days also included time in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Malcolm Johnston took him under his wing and the likes of Ron Quinton, John Duggan, Peter Cook, Wayne Harris and John Marshall were other jockey-room inspirations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mark Goodwin and Lyall Appo confer prior to a Burrandowan victory (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During a diverse career, Lyall finished eighth on the 1983-84 Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership table, picked up the 1985 QTC Exhibition-Metropolitan Handicaps double on Roy Dawson’s charge Our Rosalee, was a national straw-weight boxing champion and travelled extensively to ply his trade.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Appo was devastated when Leigh-Anne Goodwin lost her life in an horrendous fall at Roma in December 1998.<\/p>\n

Significantly, in his twilight time, his racing itinerary centred around partnering horses prepared at Chinchilla by Goodwin’s father Mark and her sister Jemimah Forde.<\/p>\n

For the past 16 years, Lyall concentrated on the journeyman’s bush circuits.<\/p>\n

He scored a string of key victories in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

Fine front running displays on Kane’s Crossing (for Goodwin) and Pedro’s Amaizing underpinned triumphs in the 2005 and 2006 Nanango Cups.<\/p>\n

He served up reminders of his instinctive talent by scoring on shock long shots Elton’s Son (2009, Caloundra) and, after a year off, Susashi (2012, Eagle Farm).<\/p>\n

July 7, 2012 was red letter day.<\/p>\n

At Esk, Lyall booted Pukekura Boy home early in the day. And although he was well beaten in the last, Lyall was elated because his son Beau-Dene, on debut, was at the head of the field on Marc The Magpie.<\/p>\n

Appo, always a mentor for Beau-Dene, Toowoomba’s reigning premier jockey, was renowned for his post-race, winning ritual.<\/p>\n

He frequently stirred up a little ovation to promote a connection with the crowd.<\/p>\n

“I loved sharing my success with the little kid watching near the fence,” said Lyall, who announced his retirement from race-riding on Fathers’ Day.<\/p>\n

He has worked as a postman since the Equine Influenza period in 2001.<\/p>\n

The natural conversationalist, who never had a tongue-tie in his kit bag, really is the ideal fellow to deliver the late mail.<\/p>\n

Fittingly, his final win was on Minto’s Lass in February at Eidsvold where his life began.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lyall Appo often encouraged racegoers to get excited after he scored (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bits And Bridles<\/strong><\/h2>\n