Matheson on top of weight in Brisbane return

By Jordan Gerrans

Having followed partner Cejay Graham north of the border, hoop Kirk Matheson says his weight is as good as it has been in some time as he aims to make a big impact on Queensland city racing once again.

The former Brisbane-based apprentice has done much of his riding across Northern NSW in recent years.

He returns to town this Saturday with one ride for Eagle Farm horsewoman Desleigh Forster, who has supported Matheson heavily in his first month back living in Brisbane.

Matheson and Forster combined to collect a winning double at Beaudesert last Friday.

Matheson did not ride between the later stages of June until the middle of August this year as he was battling with his weight, walking around at 61kgs and riding at 57kgs before he took a break. 

After having the spell, he comfortably rode at 55.5kgs – a weight he has not ridden at in a very long time - on Wednesday at Doomben.

“I just want to get back riding as much as I can as my weight has always been a battle and I have it under control really good at the moment,” Matheson said.

“Hopefully I can keep chipping away at my weight.

“I have been riding a lot of work and working pretty hard on my weight during the days, just walking and pretty well being very strict on my diet.”

After commencing his apprenticeship at Grafton back in late 2011, Matheson eventually relocated north to work under the late Kelso Wood and Brad Herne.

The 30-year-old is most certainly no stranger to riding in the Sunshine State and has a tick over 50 winners at metro level to his name in Brisbane as well as another 50 on the provincial circuit.

With Matheson’s partner Graham recently relocating north to continue her apprenticeship under the guidance of Kelly Schweida, he followed suit a month later.

The 24-year-old Graham has started the new season with a bang, ranked third in the city rider’s premiership so far.

“She is going really good and getting support from the right people and kicking goals,” Matheson said of Graham.

Matheson is riding work for the team of Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted since relocating back to Brisbane, as well as helping out Forster.

Forster spoke glowingly of Matheson following his winning double for her stable at Beaudesert last Friday on the Sky Racing coverage.

"Kirk and I go back together a long way," Forster said.

"He could always ride and is a lovely young man.

"He is very strong. Kirk has his weight under control and if he wants to make a go of it here in Brisbane, he will.

"It was a perfect aggressive ride for me the two winners from Kirk."

Matheson is hopeful of entrenching himself back in the city riding ranks.

“It would be nice to start getting a bit more support from other people and try and get a bit of a roll along,” he said.

“Desleigh has been very good to me and when I was apprenticed up here, I had a fair bit of luck for her on a few horses.

“It was really good to go to Beaudesert with just the two rides and get a double.

“It was good to get a result for Desleigh as well as she has been so supportive since I have been up here.”

All Valour was one leg of the Matheson and Forster winning double last Friday and they team up again on Saturday at Eagle Farm on the Tattersall's Racing Club program.

The son of Heroic Valour led all the way over 1400 metres in three-year-old grade last start and steps up in trip to 1500 metres on Saturday.

“Hopefully we can get a similar kind of run to the other day,” Matheson said.

“He has drawn a little bit awkward and we will need to do a bit of work to go forward but if he can find the front and get a similar kind of run to the other day then he will be tough again.

“His win the other day was quite tough, he has pressure throughout the whole race and he did it the other hard and won well.”

After riding in the opener at Eagle Farm on Saturday, Matheson heads down the highway for one engagement for Schweida on the Polytrack.