By Garry Dell
Townsville jockey Graham Kliese continued his comeback from adversity with a quartet of winners, including the coveted Burdekin Cup, at Home Hill on Saturday.
The 54-year-old Kliese has spent several years on the sidelines recovering from serious injuries but has proved his resilience with three successful comebacks.
Included in those has been the determination to get back in the saddle to share the 2020-21 Townsville jockeys' premiership with good friend Chris Whiteley.
"There were times when I doubted I would get my nerve and timing back but I felt I wasn't ready to hang up my riding boots just yet," Kliese said.
"I was out of action for a long time after a Home Hill fall in 2015 and had three operations before I got back and then I had another bad fall and shattered my leg in a race at Cairns in 2018.
"It took a lot of time of rehab but I was having a good run of winners until October last year when I had another fall and ruptured my right shoulder AC joint at Cluden.
"The specialist said I needed an operation but I decided I didn't have the time to be out for another 12 months so I opted for a shorter rehab and worked hard to get back in three months.
"It's not perfect but I can manage it with some difficulty at times but my judgement hasn't been impacted."
Kliese is one of the hardest workers at morning gallops at Cluden, riding work from about 3.30am until 7am six days a week.
"I've got a close association with Ben Williams and newcomer Stephen Bush for whom I rode winners on Whistle and the Cup on Wise Dragon respectively on Saturday," he said.
"I was particularly pleased to ride a double for Burdekin Race Club president Ricky Gudge on Rebel Lake and Old School."
Kliese was also successful on Bay Of Bengal for Bush at Cluden on Friday, giving him five winners from 10 rides over the two days.
He also recently brought up his Cluden tally of 600 winners in almost 30 years since moving to Townsville from the New South Wales Northern Rivers.
"I believe my lifetime tally is close to 1300 winners but you can't eat statistics so I just keep my head down and pray that I'll be able to keep going for a while yet," he said.
"I don't have to chase rides at my stage of life but keep myself at the forefront at track work.
"I'm not sure how many times I've ridden four winners in a day but I was lucky to be on the right horses.
"I keep my weight in check and can make 55.5kgs comfortably.
"I'm looking forward to the upcoming northern winter carnivals and hope to put a few more wins on the board before the season ends."