Comfort in comeback

Talented young jockey happy back in the saddle after two-year break

ONCE dubbed one of the state’s most gifted young jockeys, Aidan Holt is more than happy to take a ride here or there around North Queensland these days.

The Townsville-based hoop spent almost two full years out of the saddle as a battle with weight saw him walk away from race riding.

In his time away from the track, the 22-year-old lived his life like a normal bloke, a few beers and a steak for dinner, skipping out to 80kg at one stage, a far cry from the mid 50s most jockeys ride at.

He stayed in racing by riding trackwork with Alan Russell, who was also lost to racing because of weight, and the pair gave Liam Birchley a formidable morning team.

“I am heavy boned,” Holt said with a laugh this week after returning to riding. “I lived normal, that is about it.

“I always missed riding but the weight was always a killer.

“The heat and the climate have really helped being back in Townsville, it pulled it off me a bit quicker.”

Holt took his first ride back at Ewan in September of this year and has picked up heavy rides around the north since.

Last week he rode at Townsville, Mackay and Ingham but has declared he will not “bust himself” like he was forced to when riding in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, when he was regarded as one of Queensland’s most talented apprentices.

Holt, whose partner Georgie Bourke is a budding trainer out of Cluden Park, will need to test himself this afternoon, riding at 59kg on his home track.

“I am loving it, if they are happy to go around with that sort of weight, I am happy to ride them,” Holt said.

“If I had gotten that opportunity down south, I would have stayed down there.

“I was surprised trainers are not too phased after the big weight sometimes.”

Holt will take rides at Pentland and not the Cairns Jockey Club this Saturday afternoon.

The first of seven races from Cluden Park jumps this afternoon from 1.42pm

I ALWAYS MISSED RIDING BUT THE WEIGHT WAS ALWAYS A KILLER. THE HEAT AND THE CLIMATE HAVE REALLY HELPED BEING BACK IN TOWNSVILLE, IT PULLED IT OFF ME A BIT QUICKER. AIDAN HOLT

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Picture: TARA CROSER JORDAN GERRANS BRIGHT FUTURE: Jockey Aidan Holt is keen to ride at Townsville today for John Manzelmann, after a couple of years away from race riding.