Jade joins northern driving roster

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

What she thought was going to be a casual student job has turned into something very different for Jade Wakeling.

Three years after starting work at Stonewall Stud, the 22-year-old is now employed by the country's top stable full-time and has just become the latest addition to the junior driving ranks in the north.

"I picked up some morning work there doing ground work while at Uni to get some extra money," she says, "and it all just spiralled from there and ended up being full-time."

One of the first horses she was responsible for there was Prince Miki. He won one race and had four placings in 10 starts.

"When he was retired I took him, he's now my riding horse," Wakeling says, "he's a happy hacker."

She has also leased none other than 2020 New Zealand Cup champion and multiple Group 1 winner Self Assured (pictured above). The now 10-year-old was retired in 2024 after a career that included 30 wins and $2.4m in stakes.

"I lease him off James Stephens and we've done a handful of shows together."

"He's still pretty green but he's a cool horse."

Wakeling did not come from a racing background.

"I started riding when I was 13 or 14 and I leased a pony," she says, "and I have loved it since day one."  

At University Wakeling completed a Bachelor Of Science degree in Environmental Science but any work in that area has been put on the back burner as she focuses on the horses.

"I'm more than happy with my choices," she says, "my life revolves around my work right now and I love it."

Wakeling lives on-site at Stonewall's state of the art facility at Ardmore and in the last year has been working hard to get her junior drivers' licence.

"I was lucky because Stonewall have so many horses and I've had 32 trials drives."

The paperwork came through just last week.

"I have had great support from everyone at Stonewall especially Steve (Telfer), Josh Dickie when he was here as well as Alicia Harrison and Tim Williams."

Along the way she's driven some quality pacers and trotters.

"I had a sit behind Allamericanplayer at home the other week - that was quite cool."

Wakeling will join a very competitive junior driver roster in the north headed by the likes of Crystal Hackett and Harrison Orange.

Ollie Gregory also had his first win at Cambridge last Thursday night at just his fourth attempt while Devon Towers was another to be recently given the all-clear to drive on race night.

Wakeling's looking forward to getting out there. Her first drive could be just weeks away.

It's all happened a lot quicker than she originally thought it would - not that she's complaining.  

"I've really enjoyed this right from the get go - I love it so it's good."