PUNTERS’ PAL BULLOCK’S 13 WINNERS IN A WEEK

A baker’s dozen!

It’s been one heck of a week for heavyweight Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock, whose 13 wins have catapulted him to a clear lead in his bid to win a second NSW jockeys’ premiership.

And it will be herculean performance if he can do it, given he gave his rivals two months’ start.

Bullock was on track to claim last season’s title when tragedy struck only a couple of weeks from the end of the racing year.

He was dislodged near the finish of the Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m) on his home track on July 13 when his mount Bodgie clipped heels and fell.

Bullock sustained a fractured left collarbone and his “stablemate”, fellow jockey Ash Morgan – both are managed by Drew Smith – pipped him on the post to take the title by a mere half win to secure his second State premiership; the Welsh expat having ridden 136 winners in 2021-22.

“Aaron didn’t ride for two and a half months,” Smith said today.

“He resumed on October 1 with two unplaced rides at Newcastle.

“Aaron mentioned a few weeks back that he was keen to give the State premiership a good crack, and full credit to him.”

Bullock, who rode a remarkable 207.5 winners in 2022-23 to become NSW leading jockey, has now topped the century in five of the last six seasons.

He rode 102 winners in 2019-20, 106 the following racing year, and 137 in 2023-24 when beaten by Morgan in a photo-finish.

Bullock’s 13 winners this week has shot his season’s tally to 108, seven ahead of Morgan and Scone-based Sydney apprentices’ premiership front-runner Braith Nock.

He is the ‘punters’ pal’ with 11 of those 13 winners being favorites.

“Both Aaron and Ash have had tremendous seasons,” Smith, who also manages Adam Hyeronimus, one of Sydney’s form jockeys, and talented Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, said.

“As Aaron rides around 58kg, he concentrates mostly on provincial and country meetings, but won the $1m Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick in April on Know Thyself.

“Ash has been focusing more on city meetings and broke through for his first Group 1 on Private Harry at Rosehill Gardens in the $1m The Galaxy in March.”

Bullock’s wonderful week of winners is as follows:

SCONE – Monday, June 23

Pindorama ($1.20 favorite)

Pearls Treasure ($2.60 favorite)

Smoke On The Water ($2.60 favorite)

Solitario ($1.75 favorite)

PORT MACQUARIE – Tuesday, June 24

Rock The Machine ($2.05 favorite)

Buck Pharoah ($3.20 favorite)

TAMWORTH – Friday, June 27

Hellwithasmile ($2.10 favorite)

Occult ($1.12 favorite)

Spandex ($3.10 favorite)

NEWCASTLE – Saturday, June 28

Le Troisir ($5.50)

Rockbarton Max ($5)

Oakfield Neptune ($2.10 favorite)

DUBBO – Sunday, June 29

Considered ($1.90 favorite)

Story John Curtis, June 29, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos