Corey’s quickly leaving Dad behind
DAD Shaun had the first laugh but apprentice jockey Corey Bayliss has quickly gained the upper hand.
The father and son jockeys clashed in two races at the Gold Coast on Saturday and Corey finished ahead both times.
That wasn’t the case early in Corey’s career when Dad let the-then 4kg-claiming apprentice know who was boss after a race at Esk in May last year. Shaun won on a horse called By Emteeare while Corey finished third on Beer ’n’ Barmaid, just one length behind.
“I patted him on the back and said, ‘that’s how it is done, son’,” Shaun said of his celebration after passing the winning post.
Corey, who rode 79 winners last season and has reduced his provincial claim to 1.5kg, had hoped to repay the sentiment on Saturday.
He won the Simmons Livingston & Associate Class 1 Handicap (1100m) on $1.22 chance Bold Xavvi for his master, Sunshine Coast trainer Garnett Taylor, but Shaun was way back in eighth place on $151 shot Token Gesture and their paths didn’t cross after the post.
They clashed again in the GCTC Proudly Supports PRC Raceday Class 5 Handicap (1800m) with Corey finishing third and Shaun last.
Shaun, like Corey, is based on the Sunshine Coast and relishes the chance for father and son to compete in the same race.
“It’s great to ride together. When you do, you really enjoy it,” Shaun said.
Despite his early pointscoring, Shaun concedes his son is winning the battle of the Bayliss family.
“Corey is definitely a better apprentice than me,” he said.
“He’s done far more than I ever did.”