Combining with some of the countries best trainers, who could certainly teach old dogs new tricks, are equally good hoops that have amazing statistics for certain stables. Big name champions and up-and-coming apprentices have made the list, teaming up regularly to produce win after win. These are some of Australia’s most successful affiliations with impressive numbers.
Have Your Say 🗣: Who is your favourite trainer-jockey combination? Comment below!
*Statistics current as of 14/01/18
Ben Currie – Mark Pegus
Current Queensland leading trainer Ben Currie is undoubtedly one to hunt when Saturday night races come around at Toowoomba. With 75 winners already from 309 starts in season 2017-18, Currie has an unbelievable strike rate of 24%. Being in the money more often then not (54%), the partnership between the Currie stable and jockey Mark Pegus is reaping dividends. Pegus has had 47 rides for Currie this season, winning 18 at an incredible 38%. He has placed a further 11 times, being in the money 61% of the time and providing a neat return for investors. Group 1 winner Mark Pegus has had 24 wins from 78 runners so far this season, with the Toowoomba track being his most prolific. The Darling Downs specialist is winning almost 50% of his races at the track with 14 wins from 30 starts (46%) and missing a place just 7 times (76%).
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Rachel King
With 88 winners in the last 12 months, Rachel King is fast establishing herself as one of the country’s major watches for the future. The apprentice has already 29 winners for season 2017-18, racking up a further 62 minor places. King is riding at a better then 1 in 4 strike rate for the Waterhouse and Bott stable in the last 12 months with 30 wins from 112 starts at 26.8%. Getting off to a flyer this season, she has already 18 wins from 60 runners for Waterhouse and Bott, winning at 30% and placing at 55%, coming in for the minors another 15 times. King is a 2-time listed winner, including a 2.6L victory on Dee I Cee in the Premier’s Cup at Rosehill in August, as well as Stampede in the Wagga Cup, both for Waterhouse & Bott. She has now been given the opportunity to ride in group 1 and group 2 class as well as placing in group 3 company.
Tony McEvoy – Jamie Kah
154 winners for Jamie Kah in the last 12 months, she is a superstar. 28 of these have come for Tony McEvoy at a very imposing hit rate of 34.1% from 82 runners. Placing at a monstrous 70%, she has been in the money a further 29 times. Season 2017-18 has been no different for the South Australian duo, with Kah already riding 21 winners from 67 starts for the stable this season at 31.3%. A 2 time group 3 winner, Kah has already set the record for most wins by a female rider in a single season, doing so in 2016-17. She is the current number 1 jockey in South Australia, sitting just off the podium at number 4 in the country. Currently placing at 71% for McEvoy in 2017-18, it is one of the most successful partnerships and has gained a fitting following as of late, particularly from the South Australian metro and country circuits.
Chris Waller – Hugh Bowman
Headlined by the incredible winning streak of wonder mare Winx, worlds best jockey Hugh Bowman and hall-of-famer Chris Waller have teamed up for 58 wins in the last 12 months. In a prolific partnership as of late, Bowman has already 22 wins from 89 runners for Waller in season 2017-18 at a percentage of 24.7%. Accumulating another 26 places, the Waller – Bowman superstar combination is in the money almost 54% of the time this season. Possibly the highest profile jockey and trainer partnership in the world, the unquestionable talent of both is nothing short of a recipe for success.
Kris Lees – Aaron Bullock
Winning 1 in 3 races for the Lees stable so far this season, Aaron Bullock currently has 21 winners from 63 runners for the trainer in 2017-18. Tallying up another 22 minor places, he has been in the money almost 70% of the time for the stable so far this season after 28 winners from 81 starts in the last 12 months, at a solid 34.6%. Bullock has been doing especially well around NSW country circuits, in particular for Kris Lees. Taree and Scone have both been happy hunting grounds for Bullock this season, winning 6 of 9 to date at Taree as well scoring 7 times from 14 starts at Scone at 50%, contributing a tidy profit for backers in midweek racing.
Bjorn Baker – Greg Ryan
Riding at almost 40% for Bjorn Baker this season, Greg Ryan has compiled 16 winners from 41 runners, on top of his 33 winners from 87 starts in the last 12 months (38%). Currently placing at almost 60% of the time, Ryan is ranked number 2 in the Australian country standings. Another midweek gun, the Bathurst track has been Ryan’s stomping ground as of late, winning 14 from 27 races at 51%, as well as solid performances at Tamworth (7 wins from 27 runners) and Orange (7 wins from 26 runners), winning at 25% and 26% respectively.
Darren Weir – Dean Yendall
Another high-profile partnership in Australian racing, the county’s number 1 ranked trainer has teamed up very successfully with Dean Yendall as of late, with a total of 88 winners and 123 minor places in the last 12 months at 20% and 48.1%. Starting off this season in similar fashion, Yendall has delivered for the stable with 34 wins and 22 places from 184 runners for 2017-18. Performing in both midweek grade and on the big stage, Yendall won the listed Christmas Stakes on board Stellar Collision at Caulfield, the Antler Luggage Stakes on Snitzpeg at Flemington and also the ATC Winter Cup at Rosehill in June aboard Gallic Chieftain, all for Darren Weir. Winning all over Australia, the 4 time group 1 winner has freakish strike rate at various Victorian country tracks including Mildura (37.5%), Seymour (31.6%), Donald (57.1%) and Swan Hill (24.4%). The Weir – Yendall partnership is perhaps the most renowned in Australia, consistently performing all over the country in all grades of racing.
Honourable Mentions:
James Cummings – Brenton Avdulla
Last 12 Months: 85 runners, 23 wins (27.1%), 24 minor places (55.3%).
Season 2017-18: 68 runners, 20 wins (29.4%), 21 minor places (58.8%).
James Cummings – Tye Angland
Last 12 Months: 66 runners, 20 wins (30.3%), 19 minor places (59.1%).
Season 2017-18: 55 runners, 17 wins (30.9%), 16 minor places (60%).
Peter & Paul Snowden – Koby Jennings
Last 12 Months: 27 runners, 11 wins (40.7%), 6 minor places (63%).
Season 2017-18: 11 runners, 5 wins (45.5%), 2 minor places (63.6%).
