Regan Bayliss has outridden his claim on a red-letter day for the apprentice at Flemington
Regan Bayliss has outridden his claim on a red-letter day for the apprentice at Melbourne’s most famous racetrack.
Bayliss has been riding on the crest of a wave and notched three wins in consecutive races on Saturday at Flemington – his first city treble – to outride his his allowance by bringing up 80 metropolitan winners.
“It’s an outstanding feeling,” Bayliss said.
“All the hard work over the past four years all just comes down to this day when you finally outride your claim.
“It’s an absolute honour to ride a treble at Flemington and to achieve the milestone here.
“I’ve been receiving great opportunities but I’d like to think I’ve been grabbing them with both hands and running with them. It’s just excellent. An unreal day.”
Bayliss, whose elder brother Jake is also an apprentice in Melbourne, made his race debut with a win at Donald in country Victoria in July 2013 for his former master, retired trainer Peter Moody.
Since earlier this year he has been indentured to the Lindsay Park team of trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Earlier this week the 19-year-old graduated from Racing Victoria’s Apprentice Jockey Training Program and now he has outridden his claim he said he plans to apply to become a senior rider straight away and “work as hard as ever” to continue his success in the saddle.
Bayliss got the ball rolling on Saturday with a win aboard in-form stayer Boom Time for the Hayes and Dabernig team before guiding the Clarry Conners-trained Sydney sprinter Decision Time to victory in an 1100 open handicap.
His milestone win came aboard Flying Light, again for his bosses, when he denied short-priced favourite Gallic Chieftain by a neck in the Tauto Handicap (2000m).
Dabernig believes Bayliss will have no trouble making a successful transition to the senior ranks.
“I’m very proud of him and it’s a big day for him,” Dabernig said.
“He’s ridden five winners in two days now – a double last night at Moonee Valley and a treble today – so he’s in fantastic form and he’s got it all in front of him.
“I think he will really transition to being a senior jockey without any troubles.
“He really just loves being a jockey. He absolutely thrives on it. It’s all he wants to do.”
