Big- time jockeys back at Te Rapa
Centre stage will be taken by two talents of the same ilk, Michael Walker and Jason Waddell
Thoroughbred racing is not a game for sissies.
At any level, but especially for jockeys.
Rugby and rugby league players generally make it to the top of their professional peak with, yes, guile and talent, but size and strength almost always plays a huge part.
Not for jockeys — they have only guile and talent, although most would not believe the general strength lying beneath those often pretty coloured silks they wear raceday.
Riders have to rely on mental strength. And don’t think here they all find it. Yes, the football graveyard is littered with those whose lack of willpower overpowered common sense, but racing’s graveyard is much larger.
Take Sydney’s Josh Adams, twice that city’s leading apprentice, something you do not do unless headed for the stars.
Drugs and misbehaviour got in the way and after coming back from being grounded he came to New Zealand a couple of summers back and immediately impressed the best judges we have.
Again drugs appeared and Adams was grounded for t wo years on returning to Sydney.
He has just returned to riding, but only in the smalls and almost exclusively for one trainer. Compare him with the youngster who took his place at the top of the apprentice ladder, Sam Clipperton, managed by his boss, former outstanding jock Ron Quinton, who would never let Clipperton out of his sight after dark for his entire four- year internship.
Clipperton is now making a million dollars a year riding in Hong Kong.
It seems unfair to name just Josh Adams when plenty have trod the same path and because he is a likeable and charismatic young man ( and this writer knows because I managed him ) but methamphetamine plays no favours.
Today at Te Rapa the centre stage will be taken by t wo talents of the same ilk, Michael Walker and Jason Waddell, both of whom have come back to be riding in the best vein of their lives after what can only be described as a career path filled with not rocks but boulders.
If a couple of turns in the road had swung left instead of right, neither would be anywhere near a raceday saddle. Mental strength — which you have to say has appeared to desert both at times — has shored up their return to brilliant best.
Waddell’s case i s remarkable. Almost everyone had written off any chance to return to raceday riding after a lengthy spell, but return he did only a few weeks ago. Astonishingly, in those short few weeks he has ridden 12 winners to create the country’s best strike rate of 4.92, ahead of Opie Bosson on 5.48 and Leith Innes at 5.67.
The word astonishingly is in the right context, because that strike rate is achievable if you have been riding regularly, but not when coming suddenly from left field after a long lay- off with very few or no established regular contacts.
That’s how well Waddell is riding. The welfare of leading autumn carnival contenders including champion Winx has prompted officials to postpone the Apollo Stakes meeting because of predicted extreme heat. Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club have moved the meeting from today to Monday and adjusted the race times with the Apollo to jump at 5.40pm to allow as many people as possible to get to the track after work to watch Winx. Danielle Johnson is confirmed as the new rider of the last- start Waikato Guineas winner Wyndspelle. She has been booked to ride the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs- trained colt in the Avondale Guineas and in the Vodafone New Zealand Derby. Johnson’s manager Kevin Booth said they had a few options to consider, but were swayed by the fact that Wyndspelle had already won over 2000 metres. “Danielle’s very happy to be on the horse and Donna has a very good Derby record as well.” Wyndspelle was ridden to victory in the Waikato Guineas by Jason Waddell, who has opted to ride Camino Rocoso in the Derby. Another top performance from Morse Code at Woodville could signal a tilt at a black type feature next month. Owner- trainer Tom Perry might be tempted by a group three prize at Trentham if his mare continues her good run of form in today’s Pohangina Cup. “If she finishes off really well then I might look at the Cuddle Stakes,” he said. Morse Code won at Otaki and Hawke’s Bay before she finished runner- up at Te Rapa last weekend. Progressive five- year- old Abbey Road is in prime condition for his weekend assignment. The Tavistock gelding, who was an unlucky fifth two runs back before he was a dominant Premier day winner at Trentham, will run in today’s Aranui Harvesters Handicap at Woodville. Trainer Gary Vile rates Abbey Road highly and believes the gelding will continue to improve with further racing. Impressive Te Aroha debutante Ujjayyi may have earned herself an early introduction to black type competition. The Iffraaj filly easily put away her rivals at Te Aroha on Thursday and trainer Tony Pike is open to testing the two- year- old at group two level later this month. “As long as she pulls up well then we will certainly be considering the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes for her,” he said. Group one candidate Leading Role did his New Zealand Derby hopes no harm with his last- start effort against the older horses at Tauherenikau. The three- year- old finished fifth under Chris Johnson in the Wairarapa Cup behind the stakes winner All In Vogue. “I was very, very happy with his run,” trainer Gary Vile said. “Chris was rapt and said he really put in the last bit.” Johnson is booked for the Derby ride, but commitments at Ascot Park on Saturday week will see him miss the ride on Leading Role in the Avondale Guineas. Recent signs point to a bold first- up showing from Blathwayt at the Manawatu meeting today. The sevenyear- old has been freshened since Christmas and he makes his return over 1400m in the Pohangina Cup at Woodville. By the stakes winner’s own standards, Blathwayt was performing below his best last preparation. “He was okay, but he wasn’t really himself. On his day he is a very smart horse,” trainer Alby MacGregor said. “He’s fairly forward for Saturday and the girl [ Vicky Lackner] that rides him, she’s also got a share in the horse, said he feels better now than he has for a long time.” Ryan Elliot has been booked for the mount today and the visiting apprentice will also be aboard Awatane, who only requires a change in fortune to be a leading chance in the Rowden Electrical Handicap.