DYLAN Gibbons launches his senior riding career at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and has already set his first goal.
After four successful years whilst apprenticed to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, the Newcastle jockey has taken five rides at the midweek meeting on the final day of the 2023-24 racing year.
“I would like to ride 50 winners next season in Sydney,” Gibbons, back refreshed from an overseas holiday, said on Tuesday afternoon.
“I wasn’t quite able to achieve that this season without an allowance, although I rode 72 winners in Sydney the previous season as a claiming apprentice.”
Gibbons, 22, ended his apprenticeship a few weeks before he was due to come out of his time to travel overseas with partner Nevada Mansfield.
“It was great,” Gibbons said. “It was the first decent break I have had in four years since beginning my apprenticeship.
“Dad and myself went to Las Vegas 12 months ago for a week, but you’re on the go there all the time.
“I’m ready to get started again, and won’t have any trouble taking a couple of my rides at Warwick Farm at 54kg.”
Gibbons outrode his Sydney claim toward the end of an enthralling apprentices’ premiership battle with Zac Lloyd last season.
He last rode when runner-up on Semana to stablemate Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 29.
Along with his goal to ride 50 city winners next season – which begins on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens – he is also planning to move to Sydney on a permanent basis sometime during the new racing year.
“I’ve bought a place at Merewether, and have to get that bedded in first,” he said.
“But I’m hoping to be able to move to Sydney in a couple of months.
“I want to have a red hot crack there, and you have to be based in Sydney to do that.”
Gibbons had his first ride as a 4kg claimer on fourth placegetter Star Raider at Taree on July 28, 2020 in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m), and posted his first win on Ocean Ruler at Coffs Harbour 11 days later in the Bonville Cup Benchmark 58 Handicap (1500m).
A further 388 wins – including two majors - followed during an outstanding term as an apprentice.
Gibbons won the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on Explosive Jack ($26) for Ciaron Maher/David Eustace at Royal Randwick on April 8 last year, and then the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on Lees’ $31 chance Kalapour at Rosehill Gardens on March 30 this year.
He also had his first rides in both The Everest and Melbourne Cup during the current season; finishing eighth on Buenos Noches ($20) in The Everest(1200m) at Randwick last October and 11th on Irish stayer Okita Soushi ($101) in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington the following month.
Gibbons won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm in June on Sydney stayer Alegron, and says he could be a Melbourne Cup contender later this year.
. Gibbons’ return rides at Warwick Farm are Flying Chevrolet for Ciaron Maher, Our Little Star (David Pfieffer), Sweet Patriot (Matthew Smith), Tenniel (Annabel Neasham), and Hide Your Heart (Nathan Doyle).
. Newcastle trainer Doyle landed a Kempsey double on Tuesday with Exceed The Sky ($5.50) and Rush Attack ($2.60 favorite). Both were ridden by Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond.
Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible was the sole provincial winner at the corresponding Bathurst fixture, landing the Maiden Handicap (1200m) with three-year-old Sturty ($3.10), ridden by Nick Heywood.
Story John Curtis, July 30, 2024 - Pics supplied
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