Jockeys’ title now a priority for Dittman
THE race for the 2018-19 Gold Coast jockeys premiership is shaping up to be an intriguing battle with Luke Dittman declaring his intent to make it his primary focus in the coming season.
Dittman finished off the 2017-18 season with a hattrick of winners, taking out the first three races on the card at Beaudesert on Saturday with The Last Sequalo, Our Rocky and Nobby’s Gift.
The 27-year-old Gold Coaster spent the early stages of last season trying to break into the Brisbane metropolitan racing scene before returning to provincial racing with success.
Dittman, who won the 2014-15 apprentice jockeys premiership on the Gold Coast, is the son of Australian Racing Hall of Fame member Mick Dittman.
His three wins on Saturday took his season tally to 37, two more than the previous season, and Dittman has now set his sights on winning a senior premiership in his home city.
“This season I’ll just stick with the provincials,” Dittman said. “I’d like to take out the Gold Coast premiership to be honest. That is the aim for next season.”
Ryan Plumb won the 2017-18 premiership with 47 winners but the added focus of Dittman and the return of eight-time winner Dan Griffin, who missed the early stages of last season due to injury, means the title could be one of the most closely fought in recent years.
“Dan has got the history, he has won it so many times,” Dittman said.
“He is always a danger and Plumb has been riding plenty of winners.
“There are a few jockeys who get good rides so it will be interesting to see who can take it out this season.”
Dittman said he went into Saturday’s races confident he could ride a winner, he just didn’t expect to have so much early success.
“I knew I had good rides but maybe not three winners,” Dittman said. “It’s always a good day at the races when you do. It was pleasing.
“To finish the season like that was good. To go out with three is pretty special.”