Ton-up Marquand heads for six-week stint Down Under

TOM Marquand will head to Australia on a high next week after riding 100 winners in a year for the first time with Saturday’s double at Wolverhampton.

The talented young jockey from Winchcombe, below, is hoping the six weeks he will spend with Sydney-based trainer John O’shea will set him up for another successful time on the domestic scene in 2019.

“I’m looking forward to going out to Australia and just want to ride a few winners and come back in the new year fresh and well - and hope I’ve learnt a bit,” said Marquand.

“I hope it will be a successful trip, and I’ll come back a bit better and ready to go again.

“It will be different having Christmas dinner on the beach! I’m managing to see my family before I go.”

Marquand was proud and relieved to hit the century with his double on The Night Watch and Original Choice for trainer William Haggas.

“We were hoping two thirds through the season we might get there. But time was running out, because I’m going away next week, so it was nice to have a double for William Haggas of all trainers,” said Marquand. “I had my family at Wolverhampton, which was nice as well.”

It was only in 2014 that Marquand rode his first winner. He was champion apprentice the following year, with 54 winners, and made the top three for the BBC’S Young Sports Personality of the Year award. His career has gone from strength to strength, with his century of winners in 2018 coming from more than 950 rides for 120 different trainers. “It’s gone better than I’d hoped. It’s surpassed my expectations,” he said. Having reached three figures, Marquand’s target for 2019 is at least to repeat that feat. “Now I’ve ridden 100 winners I want to do the same, or else I’d be considered a failure!” he said. “Obviously that’s the main target, but big winners are what I want to be about as well - and try to ride nice horses.”