Jockey Glen Killen made “another” successful riding comeback with his first city winner since January last year aboard promising three-year-old High On Believing at Eagle Farm.
High On Believing produced a powerful finish to down Cervance by 1-1/2 lengths in Wednesday’s Channel Seven Maiden Handicap (1000m).
Killen, 53, made his latest comeback in June after having a year off after he broke his arm in a fall at Ipswich.
“I broke my arm but I also lost a finger,” Killen said.
“I had two operations on the finger and each time I was out for more than three months.
“When the doctor said I needed a third operation I said no and had it taken off and I was back riding within weeks.”
Killen’s latest comeback followed his decision to come out of retirement in December 2009.
Killen – who holds the record for having ridden the longest-priced Group One Stradbroke Handicap winner with his success aboard 100-1 shot Sir Wisp in 1977 – landed his first winner after eight years in retirement when he was successful on D’Jet at Eagle Farm in January last year.
Killen became an instant fan of High On Believing and predicted the son of Pins had a bright future over further ground.
“He’s definitely not a 1000-metre horse,” Killen said.
“He’s going to run a lot further and has a good future.”
After retiring in March 2002, Killen worked for three years as a trackwork rider in Singapore.
A set of scales was behind Killen’s decision to end his retirement after returning from Singapore.
“I was getting too fat and my weight shot up to 65 kilos so I decided when I came back home from Singapore to have a go at riding again,” he said.
Trainer John Wallace paid $220,000 for High On Believing at the Magic Millions sales on behalf of owners Graham and Linda Huddy.
“He’s a very good horse and hasn’t come on in his coat yet so there’s a lot of improvement to come,” Wallace said.
High On Believing’s dam Ugachaka was trained by Lee Freedman for most of her career, winning twice at Group Two level in the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington in 2001 and Queen Of The Turf at Rosehill the following year.
Killen does a lot of work riding for Col Williamson at Peachester Lodge where the Huddys have a number of horses in work.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work riding for Col and the Huddys at Peachester and this was my reward,” Killen said.
AAP TURF
