Danish jockey Lucas Olsen didn’t envisage riding on raceday when he decided to come to New Zealand for a working holiday, but at Hawera on Sunday he rode his first winner down under.
In just his second ride in New Zealand, Olsen partnered the Shaun Fannin-trained Sailor Jack in the Flair Daffodil Day Amateur Riders (2100m), with the pair scoring a dominant 6-1/4 length victory.
“That was good, I am pretty pleased,” Olsen said.
“I knew Billy Boy (runner-up) was the one to beat. Shaun Fannin told me to just get up there and that is what I did, and luckily I had a tonne of horse in my hands coming into the straight.”
While trotting is the predominant horse racing code in Scandinavia, Olsen has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, which was instilled in him through family involvement.
“Trotting is quite big, but it is the arch-enemy for my family, so I am not keen on it. Gallop racing isn’t that big in Scandinavia, that is why I have worked in England for a little while when I was younger,” he said.
“My Grandpa has always ridden. My Dad never got the chance, but he has given me plenty of chances to ride, just in amateurs. I have ridden in just under 100 races.”
Upon leaving school, Olsen entered the Air Force and is earmarked to return following his working holiday in New Zealand.
“I was in the Air Force where I was in flight school,” he said.
“I was going to go back in January 2025 and start on that team, but I am getting hooked on racing again.
“As much as I would like a regular job, I like working in racing. I will decide once I have been in New Zealand for a little longer whether I want to continue racing back home or if I want to get a regular job.
“I have always had racing on the side as a hobby, and my parents have horses back home, so it has always been a passion of mine. I want to keep it at least as a hobby.”
Olsen has been in New Zealand over winter and said he is enjoying his time here.
“I arrived in the middle of May. I was going to come down here for six months between my work back in Denmark. I am liking it so far, so I might stay for a little bit longer,” he said.
“I went to Paul Nelson first and then I went to John Bary’s for a little bit, and now I am with Shaun Clotworthy.
“I wasn’t going to ride when I came down here, but I saw you could get your amateur license, so I thought I might as well.”
Olsen is looking forward to seeing more of New Zealand, particularly as the warmer months approach, and said he may look to extend his VISA if he continues to enjoy his time here.
“I had my ride down south and before that I did a bit of travelling around the South Island and that was great. It was very expensive, but worth it,” he said.
“My VISA runs out in May and I want to stay throughout the summer, but it depends on what happens.
“The plan is to go back home in May, but if something crazy happens and I really like it, I might stay for a little longer. But I promised Mum I would be home."