Former jockey playing nice song in training ranks

By Jordan Gerrans

Central Queensland horseman Michael Stephens would dearly love to be back riding winners but is doing the next best thing.

The 64-year-old has not ridden for the last couple of years after an array of injuries cut down his tenure as a jockey.

Eager to remain around gallopers, Stephens took out his own training licence earlier this year and nabbed his second victory on Thursday afternoon at Callaghan Park.

A powerful performance from cheap purchase Graysong handed the former jockey the triumph over 1200 metres in a Class 3 Plate.

Graysong is only a recent addition to the Rockhampton stable of Stephens and the former Victorian galloper has not been outside the money in three runs for the new barn.

Under the riding of apprentice Olivia Kendal from a wide gate, the son of I Am Invincible skipped away by more than two lengths and looks to have a bright future in the region. 

“In his first run for me, he was just a run short and just got beat,” Stephens said.

“On Thursday, the track was there to suit him and we had everything going our way. He won with a heap in hand.”

Graysong is raced by former Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman Peter Boodle.

“We got him $4,500 and we were happy with that price,” Stephens said.

“I quickly noticed he had bad feet and we have worked on them.”

Stephens – who goes by John to his mates – stepped away from race riding in June of 2021 following a series of serious injuries.

According to Racing And Sports’ statistics, the long-time CQ rider collected 460 winners across his career in the saddle.

Stephens’ wife Angela held a trainers licence during his riding days as the team combined for 78 winners.

With the former jockey no longer race riding, he took out his own licence and Angela has transferred some horses into his name.

With a stable of four in work, and the capacity to add two more to his barn, Stephens says he is enjoying the challenge of training. 

“I was keen to muck around with something as I didn’t want to sit around and do nothing,” he said.

“I am enjoying the training and I just enjoy being around horses. If I didn’t have a horse around – I would go stupid.”

Stephens still rides all his own track work as well as their farrier work.

He landed his maiden victory with General Wolffe in late June of this year at Rockhampton.

General Wolffe also faced the starter on Thursday and ran into third in a Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1400 metres.

The 27-year-old Kendal also did the steering of General Wolffe and the former jockey was full of praise for the apprentice.

As well as the winner and placing for the Stephens stable, Kendal was unlucky not to nab another victory aboard Street Glory earlier in the program.

“I like Olivia as a rider, she still has a lot to learn but I thought she rode the horse well,” Stephens said.

“And, on General Wolffe, she couldn’t have done any more than what she did on that horse – she was a victim of circumstances.

“She rode to instructions on Graysong – she did everything perfect and the horse did the same thing we thought he would do.

“We galloped these two horses together the other day and Graysong worked enormous.”

A Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier was also contested at Callaghan Park on Thursday with Justin Stanley guiding Fine Shot to victory.