North West newcomer dreaming high

By Jordan Gerrans

Hoop Nor Yadi relocated to the North West of the Sunshine State for a new adventure and the well-travelled jockey has been rewarded with support from local trainers and immediate success.

The Malaysian-born jockey has been based in Far North Queensland for the majority of his time living and riding in Australia.

With the North West area of the state keen to attract more trackwork and race day riders, Yadi has taken up an opportunity to move to Mount Isa.

The 46-year-old has been in the outback city for the last three weeks and collected a winner at Buchanan Park’s meeting on Saturday afternoon aboard Dream High for Tanya Parry.

The hard-working hoop has won a host of country Cups on the bush circuit in FNQ.

“I get more opportunities here and every week I get rides here, I have a couple of trainers who support me a lot here,” the jockey said.

“I was keen to move somewhere for something different. I am enjoying it here. It has been good.

“I am riding maybe seven every morning, riding trackwork for a couple of trainers out here."

Yadi has ridden in the North West on occasions over the last few years as he would either drive or fly from Cairns.

He is committed to remaining in the area until at least August of this year and has been riding plenty of work for stables such as Peter Inwood and Emma Morton, among others.

In October of last year, Yadi won on The Last Crusade for Inwood at Mount Isa. 

“Nor rides him good,” Inwood said at the time.

Yadi had been knocking on the door of his first winner of 2025 in recent weeks, collecting four minor placings before Dream High got the money on Saturday.

Dream High is now undefeated since relocating to the stable of Parry after previously being under the care of Brad Widdup in NSW.

The three-year-old gelding broke his maiden status at Mount Isa late last month and made it two victories on the trot at the track when Yadi did the steering in a 1000 metre Benchmark 55 Handicap on Saturday.

Hoop Jason Babarovich appeared to have stolen the race along the fence aboard Inala Aticus before Yadi swooped late and scored by a small margin.

“I had never ridden this horse before this race but I spoke to the jockey Micheal McDonald who rode him in his last start,” Yadi said.

“He told me that the horse had a good chance to win again as he ran very well last time. He told me the horse was tough. I needed to ride a bit stronger with this one.

“I was happy with the horses run; he ran strong to the line. I gave him a couple with the stick and he kept fighting and fighting.

“Hopefully the horse can win a couple more times, I think he can.”

Yadi rode two Mount Isa winners in November and December of last year before he relocated west.

The Julia Creek-based team of Parry have backed Yadi with plenty of race day opportunities of late.

“She has been supporting me a lot, giving me rides,” he said.

Parry prepared a winning double on Saturday with Groove City landing the prize in the opening event in dominant fashion over 1200 metres in a QTIS Maiden Plate.

Yadi lived and rode across FNQ for around 15 years.

He was born in Malaysia and spent time living in Singapore before relocating to Australia.

Mount Isa hosts another non-TAB meeting this coming Saturday with Yadi excited about his book of rides that he has already confirmed.