Apprentice Jake Bayliss was surprised to see his name listed as the rider of impressive Flemington debut winner Southerly Wind when final fields were released.
Even though Bayliss had done all the work aboard the two-year-old in the lead-up to Saturday’s Eugene Gorman Handicap (1100), he wasn’t expecting the ride.
“I was a little nervous when I saw my name against him,” Bayliss said.
“The one instruction I had was not to go for him until the 200-metre mark and I think I did that alright.”
Bayliss had no need for concern as he guided the $2.60 favourite Southerly Wind to a three-length win from So Si Bon ($26) with Millinery ($6) a short-half-head away in third place.
Trainer Mick Kent said Bayliss had done all the lead-up work aboard the son of Zoffany and deserved his shot aboard the first-starter on Saturday.
“He was a very hard-going horse early,” Kent said.
“Jake did all the work and got the just rewards.”
The trainer said Southerly Wind was a natural two-year-old and was purchased privately.
“He hasn’t got a big pedigree or anything, but he was a nice type of horse by a horse that we thought would get a nice two-year-old,” Kent said.
“We’ll probably give him another run as he still looks nice and strong and healthy.”
