Jockey finds own way to the winner’s circle

CHRIS Caserta realised spring in Melbourne loomed as famine rather than feast.

As interstaters and internationals flooded tracks and stables jostling for prime rides, Caserta headed to Adelaide, where the apprentice created valuable new contacts, while building precious confidence.

Both paid off in spades last week when, in the space of four days, Caserta landed two metropolitan doubles.

The first came at Mornington, the second at Caulfield, on South Australian-trained runners for Lloyd Kennewell and Phillip Stokes.

“The experience of going over there [to Adelaide] has given me a boost in confidence and that’s what this game is about,” Caserta said.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get many opportunities here during the spring and by going to Adelaide, it’s paid off.

“Things are travelling really well, which is what I wanted leading into summer, which looks promising now.

“The summer leads into the autumn, which leads into the winter and I hope it can lead into the spring next year.”

Caserta has now ridden 16 city class winners. He partners Hot Ruby, Crafty Cruiser and Dance With Fontein at Moonee Valley and has a similarly good book of rides at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

Caserta’s rise came despite a difficult start to his Victorian career when he broke his leg in a fall at the Cranbourne trials. The then teenager’s leg was so badly broken, surgeons needed to insert a metal rod through his femur from knee to hip. As a result, Caserta missed 18 months.

A Black Belt Third Dan in taekwondo and a former international taekwondo representative, Caserta attributes some of his riding success to the core strength built in martial arts. For now, he has no plans to resume his combat sport career.

“Right now my focus is totally on riding,” he said.