TACKLING EUROPE AT 23
Q
You left Sydney and went to ride in France at the age of 23. What was that experience like?
A I was very immature and naive, I had never left Australia, so it was a bit overwhelming. I was just beaten in the Baden-Baden Derby in Germany when I rode Card King. We had an English trainer, French owner and Australian jockey who drove from France to Germany. I was packing my gear up in the jockeys room after the race and two guys walked in with an old wash tub full of ice and bottles of champagne. The jockeys popped the top took a swig each to celebrate the win. I didn’t have a runner in the (next) race so I was just watching and five of them came down (in a fall). I think one jockey broke his leg and one went through the fence. I have heard drinking champagne helps jockeys sweat but I don’t know if it’s true.
Q
You also came close to getting the chance to win the Group 1 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 1974. What happened there?
A
I was the No.1 jockey for Nelson Bunker Hunt and would ride Dahlia who was the second best horse in France at the time. I had first refusal on her and the night before the meeting they decided to take me off her. Lester Piggott got the ride and won. I was disappointed with that.
Q
You won a Deauville Cup in France with a successful protest but I understand the jockey who initially won wasn’t too pleased.
A
He had several lengths on me and I was held up. He carried a long whip in his right hand and I went inside him so he would swipe my horse across the head. I walked out of the hearing and he was going to fight me. They had to put a couple of French jockeys between us.