Jockey Micheal Hellyer backs Men Matter Raceday concept

By Jordan Gerrans

Into the second decade of his riding career, respected hoop Micheal Hellyer is acutely aware of the pressures that come from living and working in the racing industry.

That is why the 34-year-old jockey is an advocate for occasions such as the Men Matter Raceday that he will ride at this Saturday afternoon on the Gold Coast.

The inaugural Men Matter Raceday last year raised more than $140,000 for mental health and men’s health charities and there is hopes that figure will only increase in 2022.

Hellyer has a strong book of seven engagements for the Aquis Park program and is proud to be able to ride on such an important day.

“The raceday and the concept behind it, it is just brilliant,” Hellyer said.

“We all go through our problems and a lot of the time most guys do not know how to reach out and talk to someone about it.

“It is a good cause to encourage people to talk to each other.”

Through the rise of social media, jockeys are under more scrutiny than ever, according to Hellyer.

While he can happily laugh off punters having a dip at him online, he knows of other hoop’s that will take it to heart.

The father of one will often catch up with a group of a handful or more riders away from racing and believes speaking about issues you have with your mates is beneficial for their mental health.

“We are all mates in the jockeys room, we all understand what we are going through in our jobs,” Hellyer said.

“It can be very stressful at times.

“I have seen mates get injured and they get quite depressed when they are out because they are not riding.

“I have a good group of mates around me that we often talk to each other if we have problems in our personal lives or in racing.”

As part of the second Men Matter Raceday, the club have named a race after the late Arron Kennedy, who was the champion Gold Coast jockey in the 2002-03 season as well as winning Group 1 events and the Sydney apprentice title earlier in his career.

Kennedy succumbed to his own mental health demons and ended his life in 2007.

“I did not know Arron personally but it is terrible what happened to him,” Hellyer said.

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook has been a driver of the initiative.

“I’ve known a lot of men who have been lost to suicide in the past five years and there’s an underlying need for blokes to be more open to talking about mental health,” Cook told News Corp recently.

“If people come along to the Men Matter Raceday and have a good time while receiving some messages about being proactive with their physical and mental health, then it will be a great day.”

In the first running of the Arron Kennedy Memorial, Hellyer will ride Above The Sky for Sunshine Coast trainer Tim Hurley.

He has ridden the gelding in track work, trials and in races earlier in his career and thinks if the five-year-old chestnut has his mind on the job over 1300 metres this Saturday, he can most certainly win the race.

“The horse goes really good fresh, his first-up run was really good last prep,” Hellyer said.

“I thought the horse would really go on with it during that preparation but he did not perform the way I thought he would.

“He will get back on Saturday and hit the line well, he is jumping from barrier three but he is the type of horse that if you ride him too close then he will not be able to finish strongly.

“Hopefully there is some speed in the race and he can finish over the top of him.”

As well as Above The Sky, the experienced hoop is excited to leg-up Our Rebel for northern NSW trainer David McColm in the Class 5 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Hellyer has had a long association with the McColm barn and believes the resuming gelding should push for much higher honours than the field he meets on Saturday.

Hellyer has been in hot form of late, collecting two winners from just three rides at Dalby on Thursday afternoon, with the one that did not salute beaten in a tight photo finish at decent odds.

The Men Matter Raceday event aims to raise awareness, educate and fund raise for men’s health charities.

The fundraising efforts from the club's raffle will directly benefit three nominated charities: Livin, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and The Common Good.