Jockey Corey Bayliss heads west

By Jordan Gerrans

Corey Bayliss is the latest metropolitan-level hoop to bolster the riding ranks in regional Queensland following fellow jockey Jason Missen’s move in recent weeks.

The 24-year-old Bayliss has shifted from South East Queensland to Barcaldine and will link up with the Bevan Johnson stable on a consistent basis.

Bayliss was a regular race day rider for the emerging Jack Bruce stable at a city and provincial level since Bruce started out with his Deagon operation.

The former top city apprentice had two metropolitan victories to his name this season before he made the move.

He has not missed a beat in the bush either, riding a winning double at Barcaldine last weekend.

Bayliss is riding work for the Johnson team according to Bevan’s wife and stable manager Mel.

“He is going great guns,” Mel said.

“Him coming out here, he has already proved his worth. He has gone bang, bang, bang and is just riding winners – getting a double last weekend.

“It goes to show the quality of him as a rider and he is a massive asset to our stable, as well as racing out here.”

Bayliss has 40 city winners to his name during his career and has ridden in multiple black-type events.

The Central West of the Sunshine State is always in need of more track work riders and race day jockeys so the decisions by Missen and Bayliss to head to the bush are ones that the local industry is pleased with.

Missen recently moved to Barcaldine to work for local leading trainer Toni Schofield.

Missen and Bayliss follow the lead of Robert Faehr (Longreach) and Jason Hoopert (Mount Isa) who have relocated to the western areas of Queensland in recent years to base themselves after riding closer to the South East previously.

Longreach Jockey Club president and the voice of racing in the Central West Andrew Watts is looking forward to seeing the recent additions to the local riding ranks showcase their skills at his club’s annual April TAB meeting on Monday.

“The arrivals of Jason and Corey have been excellent additions to the riding ranks in the Central West for the 2024 season,” Watts said.

“They have both ridden at a high level in the city before and we can clearly see they have settled in nicely already with a string of winners.

“We are always in need of more work and race riders in the area and the entire industry is glad to see them in the Central West.

“We are looking forward to seeing them both riding at Longreach’s TAB meeting on Monday of this week with big fields set for the seven races.”

Apprentice hoop Tyler Leslight relocated to the Central West to ride for the Johnson stable at the early stages of his career and went on to claim the country apprentice’s riding title for the 2023 campaign.

“Hopefully these jockeys moving out here encourages others and apprentices to move out here,” Mel said.

“It is a good place to be out here and they can make a good living.

“There are quality jockeys out here now that are realising this.

“I know a lot of the riders want to be in the city but it is good racing out here and there is good money to be made.”

Bayliss heads to Winton this Saturday for a book of four rides before going to the Longreach TAB meeting on Monday for five more.

“He was a very, very good young apprentice when he was in Brisbane but like many of them, he started to lose those opportunities when other apprentices came through the ranks in the years after,” Mel said.

“Corey’s opportunities started to dry up and he was not getting the rides he previously was.

“As he finds his feet out here in Barcaldine, I am sure he will soon be riding winners at a provincial level as its not far for him to go to Mackay or Rocky, or anywhere from this area.”