Tony Pattillo has experienced the highs and lows of being a jockey and is confident his latest struggle for city recognition will soon end.
Pattillo, 37, has only two rides at Doomben on Wednesday and admits it’s been difficult trying to regain the confidence of trainers and finding a good horse capable of winning in the metropolitan area.
Pattillo’s problems began in January last year when he spent three months out with a rib cartilage problem.
It was only a few months later when he was sidelined for a further 10 months with a broken shoulder following a fall in Townsville.
“It was a pretty nasty break,” Pattillo said.
“I had to have a couple of operations and they cut the end of my collarbone out.”
The Gold Coast jockey has ridden only two city winners since making his comeback in July, both aboard the Tony Fitzgerald-trained Vintage Moss at Eagle Farm in August and at Doomben in September.
Pattillo concedes his comeback has again stalled with few opportunities in Brisbane.
“It’s been fairly slow,” he said.
“I’ve lost a few of the good horses I used to ride and the ones I’ve been riding haven’t been good enough to win in town.
“It also seems a lot harder this time because there’s a lot of jockeys now riding in Brisbane.
“I mostly ride at the Gold Coast and basically if you are riding well there you’ll eventually get the right break to get to town.”
Pattillo’s weight soared to 67kg during his stints on the sidelines but he’s now riding comfortably around 54kg.
Pattillo’s two rides are Sarah Can Fly in the Racing Retro Maiden Handicap (1350m) and the Matthew Dunn-trained Tacker in the Mater Dei School Handicap (1110m).
“I’ve won three races on Tacker since I made my comeback and he’s probably my best chance,” Pattillo said.
“He’s been a stepping stone for me and I’d like to do more riding for Matty Dunn.”
Pattillo’s biggest race win was aboard Art Success in the Group One Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm in 2006.
Another of his career highlights came later that year when trainer John Collins asked him to ride Art Success in the Melbourne Cup.
But Art Success was never a hope finishing 16th to Japanese stayer Delta Blues.
“To this day it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced in racing,” Pattillo said.
AAP TURF
