BRENT GODDE: As a kid did you always have ambitions of becoming a jockey?

NICK SOUQUET: Not really. I was born and bred in Tumbarumba before relocating to Benalla when I was 12. I became really good mates with Chris Taylor who is the son of Benalla trainer Anne who recently retired. Chris was a brilliant show rider and we used to hang around his mother's stables a bit. One thing led to another and I started working at Richard Freyer's stables at Corowa during the school holidays.

BG: Growing up was your family involved in racing?

NS: No, my old man was a Kiwi and came to Australia when he was 21 for a holiday and didn't go back.

BG: How old were you when you moved to Corowa?

NS: I moved to Corowa just before my 15th birthday.

BG: You started your apprenticeship under Richard Freyer as a 15-year-old in 1990. How would you describe Richard as a boss?

NS: He would work you hard but was a very good payer. An apprentice's wage was worth bugger all back then but because you worked so hard, Richard would also pay you a bit extra so you got a bit of cream. Every single week with fail I would get paid.

BG: Were you a natural in the saddle or was riding a skill that you had to learn?

NS: I was never a natural and hard to work hard to learn how to ride. I remember Richard saying to me that the only way I was going to learn was to keep on riding. So I used to ride 20 horses a morning, every morning. Richard would also put me on a few rogue horses and you would fall off them and he would say 'you will learn how to stay on them.' And I did because you soon get sick of falling off.

BG: Memories of your first ride in a race?

NS: I know it was for a bloke called Buck Harvey but I can't remember the horses name.

BG: How long did it take until you rode your first winner?

NS: It was my third ride and it was for Bob Merrill. From that moment on things just sort of fell into place and I ended up riding 60 winners in my first season. I was the leading apprentice in NSW and was second in the national title. I out rode my claim in 10 months and just before my 16^th birthday.

BG: Once you commenced your apprenticeship did you feel you had made the right career choice?

NS: Back then I think I did but if I had my time again I would have finished school instead of leaving at the end of year nine. You can't buy an education.

BG: Were you in demand as an apprentice or did you find the going tough when you first started out?

NS: I was probably fortunate that I was apprenticed to Richard who was flying at the time and was training 120 winners a season.

BG: You are regarded among the top echelon of jockeys on the Border. How long did it take to establish yourself?

NS: I probably kicked of straight away and that's why people think I'm a bit older than I actually am. I've been riding as a senior jockey since I was 16.

BG: You enjoyed a dominant era during the 1990s with you association with Freyer. How highly do you regard him as a trainer?

NS: What separates Richard from your average trainer is he could get an ordinary horse to train but he would still win races.

BG: What do you feel was the secret to his success?

NS: Richard was a big fan of the old adage "Keep yourself in the best company and your horses in the worst." If Richard thought he had a moral on Albury Cup day he would take it to Corowa or somewhere like that and it would bolt in. He would just keep his horses in the weakest company possible. That's why when he took his horses to Melbourne they would more often then not win. That's because they were fully wound up and knew how to win.

BG: Did he do anything different to other trainers at the time that has stuck in your mind?

NS: Richard was the best feeder I've seen and he would go to the next level as far as looking after his horses. He would bandage every horse in track work which was really unheard of. But he would work them hard and then feed them as much as they could eat. That was why all his horses were big, strong buggers. You wouldn't be able to work horses these days as hard as Richard did because they are not as strong now.

BG: Did Richard like to punt on his horses?

NS: Richard wouldn't bet that often but when he did, boy did he have a crack. He would let you know before the race and would really look after you with a sling if it won. I'm only guessing but he might have four or five bets in a year. I remember riding a horse one day for him called Aunty Hilda at Wagga on cup day. He said 'if you win on this, I'll really look after you.' It bolted in and he didn't disappoint with the sling.

BG: Did you ever socialise with Richard or was it strictly business?

NS: I probably worked mainly for Richard for 20 years and not once did I got out with him socially. He didn't drink or smoke. That was just the way he was.

BG: Would you regard that dominant era of the 1990s as the pinnacle of your career?

NS: Probably but I still won the jockeys premiership a few years ago in 2014. But it was a good era, the late 90s and early 2000s. Freyer was flying and it seemed everything he threw a saddle on would win. The best part most of his horses were easy to ride. Just bounce from the barrier, sit on the speed and they would be too fit for the competition. His horses were always sound and rock hard fit and basically you would just have to sit and steer.

BG: Did that golden era set you up for life?

NS: It helped, you never rest on your laurels but they were good times financially.

BG: Did you ever have an argument with Richard or was is relatively smooth sailing?

NS: Richard could dish out a fearful spray if he thought it was warranted. It was funny, if you produced a bad ride but still ran a place and he wasn't standing in the placegetters stall and in the middle of the mounting yard, you knew you were going go cop it. It was never in front of anyone but he would drag you to the side and rip shreds off you. But to his credit, he would let you have it and by the time it was to saddle up for the next race he had moved on.

BG: Richard was well known for his association with star stayer Leica Falcon. In your opinion could Leica Falcon have won the Melbourne Cup if it wasn't for the EI outbreak at the time?

NS: Well the previous year he did run fourth behind arguably the greatest mare in history in Makybe Diva and he had a tough run. But we will never know.

BG: Did you realise how good Leica Falcon was when he first arrived at the stables?

NS: When Richard first got the horse, I didn't think he was much chop at all. He was a terrible horse to ride and had to go back to the breakers. I rode Leica Falcon to one of his first wins at Corowa and I thought he went all right but didn't beat much. Next start at Wagga I rode him again and he sat back last in a slowly run race. Straightening for home, I gave him a crack with the whip and he put 10 lenghths on field. He won by 12 lengths and I eased him down. Then he went to Sandown and won, Caulfield he won and then fourth in the Melbourne Cup.

BG: Considering the amount of success you had with Richard, did you have ambitions of riding in the city or were you content racking up plenty of winners in the bush?

NS: I went to Adelaide to ride for Russell Cameron for three months and rode quite a few winners. I came back home for a month, then went back to Cameron's for another six months. I rode 35 winners in town and got my claim down. I started to struggle with my weight a bit, so I returned back to Corowa.

BG: You never considered having a crack at riding down in Melbourne?

NS: When I left Adelaide, John Meagher called Richard to see if I wanted to go down to Melbourne for six months to see how I went. I knocked back the offer and Richard told me 'that's the biggest mistake you will make, that bloke would have put the polish on that you need.' Brett Prebble ended up going there instead.

BG: I believe when you moved to Corowa you became good mates with Damian 'Hose' Houlihan?

NS: Damian was one of the first blokes I met when I originally moved to Corowa. His uncle owned horses with Richard Freyer and we are the same age. I still talk to him at least a couple of times each week.

BG: You lived with Damian in Corowa for quite a number of years after he finished playing at Collingwood and was playing in the O&M?

NS: We probably lived together for about three years.

BG: Damian was probably not the best choice for a house mate considering how much he liked a good time?

NS: Most people have the perception that Damian was a party animal. Don't worry he loved having a good time and we were both young and earning good money. We probably weren't much good for each other but people would be surprised how disciplined he was during footy season. Damian was the hardest trainer you would see and was very strict with his diet.

BG: So it was an eye-opener for you how dedicated Damian was?

NS: For sure. When he was playing for Corowa he used to get home after matches and lie on the floor for at least a couple of hours just to try and get his back right for the following week.

BG: What was wrong with his back?

NS: I'm not exactly sure but he injured it as a kid. I remember Paul Spargo was coaching the interleague side and rang me one day and asked me to help him convince Damian into playing interleague. I told 'Sparg's' how his back was no good and that he had to lie on the floor for hours after matches and again on the Sunday just to play and that's probably why he wasn't interested in playing interleague.

BG: Did you get to many Collingwood matches when he was playing with the Pies?

NS: Not really. I remember going to one match in Adelaide to watch him play because I was riding at Morphettville at the time.

BG: What are your memories of Houlihan when he destroyed North Albury in the 2000 decider with a 10 goal haul?

NS: Damian was flying at the time and Corowa-Rutherglen boasted a star-studded line-up that in my opinion would have troubled Wangaratta Rovers in their prime during the mid 1990s when Robbie Walker was at his peak. I remember Damian said to me "I'll kick 10 today and come off at three quarter time because nobody will get near me." And that's exactly what he did. If he had of stayed on for the last quarter he probably could have kicked 15.

BG: You also had plenty of success with Brian Cox who was tragically killed in a truck accident last month?

NS: I'm not big on keeping stats but someone told me the other day that I rode more than 100 winners for Brian which surprised me a little bit.

BG: There is no doubt Brian was an intriguing character, how would you describe him?

NS: He was a different bloke but I think he was a bit misunderstood. Brian is the sort of bloke if you were stranded on the middle of the road at 2am, he would come and get you. If you needed $10,000 real quick and asked Brian for a loan and he didn't have it, he would loan it off someone and give it to you. Similar to Richard, he was a very good payer.

BG: What was it like to ride for Brian?

NS: It was a lot harder to ride for Brian than Richard, because he would put a lot more pressure on you to win. I learnt a lot riding for Brian but if you made a mistake, geez he would let you know about it.

BG: Did you cop any memorable sprays from Brian?

NS: I remember one Albury carnival I had a few rides for Brian. I drew barrier four on a filly that had never been the NSW way of going and it hung the whole way and I was out four wide. It won and Brian said 'That was a good ride.' The next ride I box-seated on it and it got beat. Brian said 'You were too close in the run.' So with Brian if they won it was a good ride, if you didn't it was a bad ride.

BG: Who do you regard as the best horse you have ridden locally?

NS: Probably Leica Falcon. I rode Wodonga Cup winner Mooball for Coxie and I thought the horse could have been anything. Mooball ended up with a handy record but I thought he was capable of winning a group race which he never did. Ekalaka was also very handy and won an Albury Cup and Wodonga Cup. Barakee was trained by Richard, won two Albury Cups and was favourite for the Derby but broke down.

BG: Who do you regard as the best jockey you have ridden against locally?

NS: There's none better than Mathew Cahill, he's been good, for a long, long time. Cahill is a bit like Blaike McDougall in that they can make ordinary horses travel and they don't find any trouble in a race. Mathew is cool under pressure and the best I have seen. McDougall and Nick Heywood are his biggest competition. Simon Miller is also under-rated in my opinion.

BG: Who do you rate as the best trainer you have seen on the Border?

NS: Freyer and Coxie are hard to split. Peter Maher is a very good trainer and is probably under-rated. Craig Widdison is just starting out but is going the right way about it and one of the hardest working trainers I've seen. Craig has got a real good eye for a horse as well.

BG: What are some of the biggest changes in the industry since you started out?

NS: You have got to be a lot more professional. Because the prizemoney has increased ten-fold, it's a lot more competitive. Apprentices are getting a lot more assistance from the industry as they come through the ranks. I've also found if you are not in form, trainers will drop you like a hot chip.

BG: Were you sad to see the demise of the Melbourne Cup meeting at Corowa which used to attract massive crowds?

NS: I am because it used to be huge and was what kept the club going. It was one of my favourite meetings to ride at and it was always good socially as well because you could have a few drinks after the races and didn't have to race again the next day.

BG: Would it be fair to say Tom O'Connor had a huge impact at Wodonga during his tenure in turning the Wodonga Cup into a big event worthy of a cup meeting?

NS: There is no doubt about that and Tom was a smart operator and good people person. Terry Maher and the rest of the committee should also be acknowledged for all their hard work as well.

BG: Obviously racing is a highly competitive industry but what is the camaraderie like in the jockeys room?

NS: It's good but we are probably not as tight as it was a decade ago.

BG: Are you good mates with any rival jockeys?

NS: Brendan Ward was in my wedding party and I was in his and we are pretty tight. I socialise a bit with Simon Miller, Brodie Loy, Blaike McDougall and Andy Bloomfield before he retired.

BG: Who do you consider the biggest entertainer in the jockeys room?

NS: He has been out injured for a couple of years but John Kissick used to make me laugh. He is not far off riding again and I'm looking forward to him coming back.

BG: You recently copped a nine week suspension after pleading guilty to placing 10 bets totalling $125. No doubt a costly lesson for you?

NS: It was but you cop your medicine, learn from it and move on.

BG: What do you love most about being a jockey?

NS: I like the routine of being a jockey and the high you get from riding a winner and seeing the connections enjoy the win.

BG: What do you hate most about being a jockey?

NS: Wasting is tough and you don't get much of a social life. I hardly get to see my three kids of a weekend because I'm usually working. There is a lot of low times in the game but when you get a winner, it makes it all worthwhile.

BG: Is it a constant battle for you to keep your weight in check?

NS: Yes but I sort of got used to it. I just usually have one meal a day, have a big lunch and a light snack at night. It sounds tough but your body adapts to it.

BG: What would you rate as your career highlight?

NS: Winning an Albury Gold Cup on Personal Image is right up there.

BG: I know you are not big into your stats but how many winners have you ridden.

NS: I reckon it's more than 1300.

BG: Have you got a favourite meeting you love to ride at?

NS: Not really, anywhere I can ride a winner I suppose.

BG: Nick you are 45, how much longer can you see yourself riding for?

NS: Probably about another five years. I've got a wife and three kids and the bills don't stop coming in.

BG: What can you see yourself doing once you retire from being a jockey?

NS: Not sure to be honest. I don't know if I will stay in the game or not.