AFTER gaining 30kg during her two pregnancies, jockey Danielle Scott has made a comeback after almost four years on the sidelines.
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She is well-known in local racing and is the daughter of Albury trainer Donna Scott and the partner of SDRA premiership winning jockey Blaike McDougall.
Scott had a brief stint in the saddle in 2016 where she had 20 rides before taking time off to give birth to her two daughters Penelope who is almost 3 and Maisie, 10 months.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a dream start as a jockey after partnering Queen Tara to victory at Canberra for trainer Peter Robl in her first ride.
Scott also rode several placegetters.
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She had her first ride back over the Albury carnival and was beaten in the last-stride aboard Helcolore at Wagga on Monday which is trained by her mother.
Scott regularly rides trackwork for her mother and said regaining her jockey's licence and using her claim could provide the stable with an advantage.
"Mum's stable has grown fairly quickly and I was turning up to do trackwork six days a week anyway," Scott said.
"I was doing half the job an apprentice jockey does anyway.
"So I thought I may as well get my licence back because being able to claim 4kg as an apprentice is a big advantage.
"I will also be able to make some extra money while I'm at it."
Scott said the biggest hurdle to making a comeback was losing the necessary weight.
"The hardest thing for me was getting the weight off," she said.
"Making the decision to ride again provided a bit of motivation to get fit again after having the kids.
"I put on more than 30kg during both my pregnancies, even six weeks ago I was 63kg.
"But it's slowly coming off.
"The key to losing weight is eating properly and just trying to time manage with two young kids and being organised and having healthy meals ready to eat.
"Finding time is the hardest part because the kids aren't in day care."
Scott said her partner, McDougall, was fully supportive of her decision to ride again.
"Blaike has always been my No. 1 supporter in whatever I choose to do," she said.
"We have a mechanical horse at home and he provides me with honest feedback and doesn't try to sugarcoat anything while still being encouraging."
