Jockey Abe reflects on career best season in the saddle

Photo credit: Peter Roy

By Jordan Gerrans

The extended time at track work in the mornings and long hours in the car have started to pay off for North Queensland jockey Masayuki Abe.

The Japanese-born hoop has been in Australia for the best part of two decades and just registered his best season on record yet, reaching 20 winners for the first time.

Abe has been Cannon Park-based at Cairns for the last four years and in the first couple of seasons, the 40-year-old battled to get regular opportunities on race day.

That has all changed over the last 12 to 18 months following his increased efforts to ride work at Cairns, as well as making the regular trip to the Atherton Tablelands – around an hour or so from Cairns – to push his case for more race rides.

Since then, Tablelands trainers such as Sharlee D'Avila, Ray Moller, Ricky Ludwig, Bruce Hunter and John Kilroy have regularly put Abe on and have reaped the rewards.

“I was getting dry in Cairns for race rides and when I started to go up to Atherton to ride work for Sharlee, the people in Atherton started to put me on and it just all started from there,” Abe said.

“Everyone in Atherton were pretty supportive.

“I think I have been riding pretty good over the last two years but just I did not get many opportunities for race rides until the last year or so.

“I battled a few injuries in Cairns as well, which is why I think I went through a dry patch, but like I said going to Atherton has been a big help for me.”

Across the 2020/21 racing season, Abe rode more winners than his two previous seasons combined.

His great run of form has rolled into 2021/22, as well, picking up three victories from just 10 starts so far – on top of riding at 70 per cent for his mounts to finish in the top three this month.

“That was my best season last season,” Abe said.

D'Avila, who won the FNQ Country trainers premiership last season with 19 victories, praised Abe’s work ethic and listening to instructions in races earlier this year following a winner he rode for her stable.

The Japan product only ever rode track work back home and started his apprentiship when he first arrived in Australia, spending time in the Northern Territory before eventually landing in Toowoomba in 2006.

From then it was onwards to Mackay and on to Cairns in recent years.

As the 2021 TAB Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival turns to Cannon Park in FNQ this weekend and into next month, Abe is hopeful he can continue his strong riding form.

He has five bookings for Cairns Newmarket day this Saturday and selected the Alwyn Bailey-trained Stifling as his most promising ride of the day in the Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap over the speedy 950 metres.

“I think Stifling will be my best chance this week,” Abe said.

“My other rides, Regal Heart, I think she needs pace on so in a higher grade than what she has been racing in, if the speed is on – that will suit her as she will be able to finish off well.

“That does not bother me too much that she is up in grade.

“Next week at Cairns I am looking forward to riding Vulpes for Dean Piccolo, he has been going well, I am keen on him.”

Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in prize money for the Rosebud Gardens Class 2 Handicap, to be run over 1250 metres, in Cairns on Saturday.

The prize money for the race was set to be $25,000 before a generous donation from Clifford Little of $14,500 and the Cairns Jockey Club donating $500 lifted the purse on offer to $40,000.