'Brothers' making their way in the Brisbane riding ranks

By Jordan Gerrans

Apprentice jockeys Rob Thorburn and Bailey Wheeler have a relationship like brothers.

The emerging duo moved to Queensland together to chase their riding dreams in the saddle.

However, it is not quite clear who is the older and younger brother in the dynamic.

They both take turns holding onto the senior role, Thorburn reckons.

On the track, Wheeler is the big brother but away from the races, that is where Thorburn takes charge.

As Thorburn is around six years older than Wheeler, it would make sense for him to be the older brother in all scenarios.

But, his close mate and ‘brother’ Wheeler has been riding in races since way back in 2021 while Thorburn at 24 years of age kicked off his racing riding career on Saturday just gone.

The former NSW-based Thorburn credits Wheeler – who is one of the most talented youthful riders in the Sunshine State – as being a driving force behind his rise.

“It is a double dynamic as he is my younger brother in terms of age and I try and do things for him outside of work,” Thorburn said.

“Inside the racing game, he has got my back and has taught me everything I know.”

After working for a few stables south of the Tweed border, Thorburn eventually linked up with his 18-year-old mate at Kris Lees’ stable.

The pair decided to move up to Brisbane earlier this year to work for Brisbane trainer Chris Anderson and drove up together.

While Wheeler has hit the ground running in his new adventure, Thorburn has bided his time to eventually get to his race day debut.

With just under a month to go in the season, Wheeler has piloted 53 winners on the provincial circuit to be inside the top 10 in that category for the campaign.

Wheeler only trails Jake Molloy for winners at a provincial level for apprentices’ this season.

“Bailey, in my eyes, he is one of the best apprentices coming through the ranks and when I was working with him at Kris Lees’, he gave me all the time,” Thorburn said.

“I owe him a lot with where I am at and what I have learnt has come straight from him.

“He has always been welcoming for me to ask him about my riding and in all honestly, he knows I want to get better so he is hard on me.

“Bailey is flying and is a very strong and good rider.”

Thorburn started his riding career at Wondai on Saturday afternoon with a pair of second-placed finishes from two race rides.

Like Wheeler, Anderson anticipates Thorburn will work through the grades.

“He will probably kick off his career, predominantly, I think Toowoomba is a really good place to start on a Saturday night,” the Eagle Farm trainer said.

“Hopefully you will see his name up there and then we will eventually transition Rob to the Gold Coast, I think that is a really nice stepping stone then into the metropolitan area.”

While Thorburn did ride track work in NSW, he did not actively chase becoming an apprentice jockey until he moved north for his ‘lifestyle change’.

“I saw the opportunity to get a start up here in Queensland with Chris and I had heard nothing but good things about Chris and I really wanted to have a crack,” Thorburn said.

“It worked out perfect as Bailey and I are at different stages of our careers and we would be riding at different meetings and we are able to ride a different level of horse at trials or race meetings.

“It has exceeded my expectations being here, I find Queensland beautiful and the racing staff up here to be really supportive.

“There is so many good people up here that want to give you the time of day if you have any questions for them.”