Spotlight On: Bailey Wheeler

By Brodie Nickson

Queensland has become a production line for talented apprentice jockeys in recent years and Bailey Wheeler is the latest to step off the assembly line and into the winner’s stall. 

Eighteen-year-old Bailey Wheeler has been unstoppable of late across South East Queensland, especially on the Gold Coast where he is challenging Noel Callow for the Jockey Premiership. 

Wheeler in particular grabbed national attention on April 15 after he rode five of eight winners on the card. 

It took Wheeler’s record in his first 51 rides on the Gold Coast Polytrack to 20 winners, striking at a phenomenal 39.22 per cent. 

“My last few months have been easily the best of my riding career,” Wheeler said. 

“I have been able to race ‘King’ Callow for the premiership. 

“If I can beat him that would mean so much to me because he is such a good jockey in his own right. 

“The last few months have been the best it could have gone. I am getting some great support with some nice horses and every time I go to the races I seem to ride a winner.” 

When it comes to support, it is harder to find a stronger array of guidance available at the disposal of Wheeler. 

His father, Dan, was a former jockey, his grandfather was a trainer and his godfather is Zac Purton. 

“Dad was an apprentice in Grafton and rode a fair few winners,” Wheeler said. 

“Weight cut his career short so he had to give it up quicker than he would have liked. 

“Pop was a trainer and he owns horses now, so he and dad have a little partnership now in Coffs Harbour.” 

Growing up around horses, there was never a doubt in Wheeler’s mind that the saddle was where he belonged. 

“I used to ride ponies around the Gold Coast when I was kid thinking I was racing,” he said. 

“From when I could think or walk, there is nothing I ever thought of other than being a jockey.”

Originally from Grafton, Wheeler had already enjoyed a tremendous racing education well before his 16th birthday. 

“We moved to the Gold Coast when I was a real young bloke, before eventually moving to Newcastle with Kris Lees and that is when I got my apprenticeship,” Wheeler said.

“When I was finally able to ride trackwork it wasn’t that long until I was allowed to ride trials and progress to raceday.” 

Wheeler rode his first winner at 16 years of age when booting home the Bjorn Baker-trained Airstrike at Goulburn in 2021. 

He had ridden a host of winners across country New South Wales, before opting to take some time off away from racing last year. 

Highlighted in a powerful piece with Racenet’s Trenton Akers in March, Wheeler speaks openly about some cross-roads he had reached early into his career and the maturity shown to revive his career in South East Queensland. 

A major catalyst behind this resurgence was his new boss, Eagle Farm trainer Chris Anderson. 

“He is one of the best bosses you could ask for,” Wheeler said. 

“I speak to him about all things inside and outside of work. He is so understanding. Not many people get a boss like that. He is a very good bloke. 

“He has been able to support me a lot with the horses he has and hopefully we can keep building that. 

“He wants what is best for you and he gets the best out of you.” 

The bond between master and apprentice has certainly been replicated on the racetrack, with the pair combining for 11 winners in 47 rides. 

“(Anderson) has some nice young horses and he is still getting better each season as a trainer,” Wheeler said. 

“Hopefully when those horses go to town I can go too and keep building with each other.” 

Just like any star team or athlete, the crew behind the scenes is just as, if not more, important than the athlete themselves. 

In addition to Anderson, Wheeler’s father, Dan, and manager, Adrian Gray, are essential points of call. 

“The sort of people behind me, my Pop, my dad, Adrian, Zac Purton, all these people behind the scenes help massively,” Wheeler said. 

“My manager Adrian Gray does a great job. My godfather Zac Purton I also speak to regularly. 

“I can call Dad whenever I want and talk to him about anything I want, which helps so much. Everything I know, he knows.” 

Gray knew Bailey and his father from their Gold Coast days and was one of many in the industry who could see the clear potential. 

“I (began managing him) basically a week after he commenced riding races in Queensland, but I’d been on the blower to his boss Chris Anderson about taking him on the second I heard he was moving up,” Gray said. 

“I saw him ride one of his first winners live on TV—Omar for Patrick Cleave—and couldn’t get over how well he could hit for a 4kg (claiming apprentice).” 

Although Gray wasn’t managing him at the time, he and Wheeler have spoken of Wheeler’s time away from racing and the life lessons learnt. 

“H’s come out the other side better for the experience and a more mature, well-rounded person and rider,” Gray said. 

“His riding is now a testament to that and sets him ahead of the rest.” 

This experience and Wheeler’s ruthlessness for success is a scary proposition for any competition. 

Gray describes Wheeler as “a dog with a bone all day, every day” and how his appetite for success grows with each milestone. 

“A couple of times I have basically had to say ‘just chill – I will sort it out’,” Gray said. 

“(His desire) will get him to where he wants to be.” 

This desire to learn is only enhanced by constantly picking the brains of his father. 

“I just want to improve and become better at everything. Sometimes you have a bad day so you just want to call them and talk to them, but mostly I call and ask ‘how did I ride this’ and what could I have done better,” Wheeler said. 

“Zac doesn’t get much time to go through things because he is such a busy man, but Dad especially helps me go through it, so I give him a call and ask him for a lot of things. 

“Dad will help me try read the race, where will I land, come up with a second plan and then that will allow me to go to speak to the trainer before the race, present my plan and listen to theirs. 

“Dad is a very smart man. He would have made a very good jockey.” 

Unlike his father, Wheeler has no issues with weight and is reaping the benefits of being naturally light. Wheeler currently rides at 52kg and says he will drop to 51kg with ease when he is ready to step up to town. 

“It is a massive bonus. Some jockeys understandably have a lot on their minds with weight and stuff, but my mind is clear and winning is all that is all on my mind,” Wheeler said. 

When asked about goals for this season and having an eye towards town, Wheeler’s response was fast. 

“I am going to wait until next season; after the carnival I will look to go to town,” he said. 

“I would love to knock Noel Callow off for the jockey premiership because I wasn’t expecting to be there challenging for the premiership, but it’s a goal I really want to hit.” 

Gray admits he has already been inundated with offers for Wheeler to ride in town, but said it is “eyes only” for the Gold Coast Jockey Premiership. 

“It will be the call (to ride in town) of his boss, Chris,” Gray said. 

“I’d like him to be coming in hot on the metropolitan scene August 1.” 

Wheeler also has his eyes fixed on potential rides at his first hometown of Grafton during the July carnival. 

“(Targeting the Grafton Carnival) would be something very important to me,” he said 

“Obviously I’d love to ride a winner, but to even get a ride across the carnival would mean a lot to me. 

“That is where I was born and I would love to go there to ride in the races, show my old school mates and target the race.”