Top Aussie jockey calls it a day

Darren Gauci, one of Australia’s most gifted jockeys, has retired to take up a role with Racing Victoria’s apprentice jockey training programme.

Gauci, 51, has accepted a full time position as an apprentice jockey coach with Racing Victoria, a role that will see him mentor and assist aspiring jockeys within RV’s world-renowned athlete development programme.

The champion jockey has had an amazing career. At the height of his career he was the most soughtafter jockey in Australasia.

He was linked to some of the most important stables that all used him to win major races right down the eastern seaboard.

He won more than 2500 races, including 35 Group I victories, on the likes of superstar racehorses Lonhro, Super Impose and Shaftesbury Avenue.

He still holds the Australian record for riding 506 winners during his riding apprenticeship.

Gauci said his biggest regret was not being able to win a Melbourne Cup, having finished second three times.

‘‘I was a little unlucky in one of them but the other two had every chance,’’ he said. ’’It would have been nice to win a Melbourne Cup. That’s every jockey’s dream, but I can’t complain, I’ve had a wonderful career.’’

Gauci begins his new job on February 6 and is likely to have his last rides two days earlier.

He said the time was right to begin a new chapter in his life and is excited by the prospect of overseeing the development of Victoria’s next generation of jockeys.

‘‘I probably could have ridden for a couple of more years but this job came up and I applied because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and the time feels right to transition into the next chapter of my life,’’ he said.