Apprentice jockey on a Golden run

By Jordan Gerrans

A promising interstate apprentice is using regular trips north of the border to Queensland to gain more experience and is developing a strong strike-rate in the Sunshine State.

The Moree-based Jacob Golden has been prominent across the Downs Country Racing Association over the last couple of years and has collected recent victories at Roma and St George.

The 21-year-old boasts a better strike-rate in Queensland than he does in New South Wales, riding a winner on nine per cent of his engagements and placing on 27 per cent.

According to Golden’s boss, race meetings around the Moree area dry up for opportunities in the middle stages of the year and regular trips to Queensland are the answer to continue learning and developing.

Apprentices based in Northern NSW have long enjoyed success heading over the border historically, with recently crowned Gold Coast champion rider Bailey Wheeler one of the latest to follow the trend.

Cejay Graham has also recently relocated to Brisbane after going back and forth between Queensland and Northern NSW. 

Golden’s master Peter Sinclair has encouraged the natural lightweight youngster to head north for more chances come race day.

“Especially this time of year when most of the meetings are at Scone or at Tamworth, it is really hard for him and any riders to get opportunities around our area, that is even for the bigger jockeys to get a full book of rides,” Sinclair said.

“For him to get up to Queensland and get four or five rides, that is more practice and learning that he can do.

“It is good experience and it is helping him, the more rides the get the better you are going to get. A lot of apprentices struggle around our area because there is so many good riders.

“We never used to see the Newcastle jockeys out this way but they have been more prominent here lately so it is hard for the kids to get a kick along.”

Golden rode at St George for their annual Cup meeting on Saturday and had a full book of engagements accepted before his ride in the Cup was scratched.

He collected a winner earlier in the program for Roma trainer Ben Waldron, piloting Le Kita in the QTIS Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.

It was a massive day for the apprentice ranks at St George Jockey Club on Saturday, with all five of the non-TAB events won by apprentices.

Golden rode one winner, Dylan Bennett claimed two, which included the Cup, while Tamara Noble also picked up a winning double.

Golden could look at a permanent move north of the border in the coming period to chase more provincial opportunities through his apprenticeship but he also wants to stay loyal to his boss that has provided him so much.

“I seem to be getting more of a go up in Queensland, which is great,” the young hoop said.

“I am getting more confidence the more I ride up there and trainers are keen to put me on more.

“Eventually I would like to try and base myself up that way, maybe in the later stages of my apprenticeship, but Pete has been great to me and I am keen to stick by him.”

After claiming a winner on the sand at Roma earlier this month, Roma-based trainer Waldron handed Golden three rides on Saturday at St George.

“It is about getting into the bigger areas once you get your confidence and your strike-rate up,” Sinclair said.

“He rides those tracks good now as he has been to Roma a few times and is getting that experience.

“He is getting a good association with some of the trainers around that Queensland country area now. He is getting on the better horses now, which helps.”

Golden – who hails from Port Macquarie originally - was also in the winners enclosure at Wandoan Diggers' Race Club in late May of this year.

A former jockey himself, Sinclair described his apprentice as a person with a ‘great nature’.

“You would go a long, long way to find a better person in the world than Jacob,” Sinclair said.

“Just around the stables, he is such a good worker and he is a great kid.

“He has come a long way the last year or so. He is one of the best kids in the world, he is a beautiful young fella. His work ethic is second to none.”