SECURING A BIG RACE RIDE IS LIKE A GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS. WHO WILL WIN AND WHO WILL FALL DOWN?

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 27, 2020

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the column these articles are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

It’s that time of the racing year … the spring carnival … and, while trainers shuffle the pack and try to get their best horses into the best races, jockeys can sometimes end up playing something akin to musical chairs as they look to secure their first choice rides.

Already Michael Walker has stepped back from the ride on international raider Prince Of Arran for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Walker has a notable history with Prince Of Arran having won the Geelong Cup on the way to a Melbourne Cup placing in 2018 and then famously finishing second (after protest) in last year’s controversial Melbourne Cup finish. Walker then followed the horse to Hong Kong to take the ride on Hong Kong International Race-day.

Trainer Charlie Fellowes clearly thought Walker would stick with Prince Of Arran this time around, as evidenced by this tweet he posted on social media, ‘Gutted to have lost Michael Walker’s services on Prince Of Arran. They have been a great partnership over the last couple of years. Means I am looking for a jockey! Anyone want to ride the horse that’s placed in the last 2 Melbourne Cups. Also needed for the Caulfield Cup!’

Walker instead has opted to commit to ride Dashing Willoughby for fellow Kiwi Sir Owen Glenn in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. It has been reported that the relationship between Glenn and Walker, who have worked together for a decade, was a telling point in Walker’s decision-making process.

And if last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up will have a new jockey this year, so too will the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.

Craig Williams, who scored on Vow And Declare last year, has switched allegiance to Surprise Baby and Vow And Declare’s trainer Danny O’Brien has confirmed that Damien Oliver, who will be chasing his fourth Melbourne Cup victory whichever horse he chooses, will now have first option to try and partner Vow And Declare to back to back victories.

You can bet these won’t be the only two examples of jockey changes over the spring carnivals … but not all of them will come via the Walker, Williams route whereby the choice rests with the rider.

There will be jockeys out there in the coming months who will either thinking they have the inside line to a big race ride in the … or at least are hoping for one … who will not make the final cut and thus be confined to a spectator role like the rest of us.

You think the race is competitive … try getting the right ride on the big day.

So, while we watch with interest as the form of the big race contenders unfolds as they head towards their particular grand final, the secondary battle is already very much underway as jockeys elbow their way past rivals intent on securing the big race booking they desire.

It is a race within a race which is no less keen than anything we will see on the track.

Just realise that when, for example, the Melbourne Cup field walks out onto the track on that first Tuesday in November, the jockeys on board have already won a much-prized opportunity.

There is no glory yet … but, as the old saying goes, if you have got a ticket you have got a chance … and, for someone, that months-in-the-making opportunity is going to turn into gold!

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