Wiggins finds drive for wins
“THE New Normal’’ is a phrase that has become synonymous with changes since the COVID-19 pandemic started and for some jockeys it means seeing a lot more of the state’s highways.
One is Ryan Wiggins, who left Brisbane early on Thursday bound for Friday’s Rockhampton Cup meeting, where he will partner favourite Absolut Artie in the Cup and last-start stakes winner Inquiry in the Newmarket.
It’s a trip he and other southeast Queensland riders are becoming used to, despite being allowed to fly. Under the latest COVID-safe rules,
Racing Queensland and the state government lifted restrictions on jockeys flying within the state, but RQ and the Queensland Jockeys Association have recommended not to fly where it can be avoided.
Wiggins has no qualms that a 60-minute flight is now a seven-hour road trip.
“There’s one or two flying, because they have to ride on Saturday, but a lot of jockeys are making the effort,” he said.
“I had to take Saturday off, which is not ideal, but ... I don’t want to be the one to stop racing.
“So for the sake of going up the day before, I’m happy to do that.”
Wiggins prefers to leave a day either side of the race meeting to allow for the drive, which means he has missed several meetings in the southeast as a result, but so far it has been worth his while.
Since jockeys were allowed to move out of the original zone they chose at the start of the COVID restrictions, he has driven to Rocky twice, where he rode trebles both times.
“It’s been good with the winning rides, but the drives haven’t bothered me. It’s actually been really good,” Wiggins said.
“I’ve been in Queensland 10 years and never driven past Noosa.”