A three-time premiership winner as an apprentice in the 1980s, jockey Darren Gauci says he is as keen and determined as ever.
The opportunities, especially on the big stage, have dried up in recent years for the 49-year-old.
Darren Gauci
Gauci went to Caulfield on Saturday with four rides and made a statement with two winners courtesy of contrasting rides on Rich Jack and Lord Durante.
He had ridden just one city winner for the season but said, for the first time in a while, he had good opportunities on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of jockeys there that just need the horses, and it was a good day,” Gauci said.
Gauci won three consecutive premierships from 1983/84, and added a fourth title in 1995/96.
He hopes his Caulfield double will lead to more chances in the metropolitan area but he is also realistic.
“It’s very hard,” he said.
“I’ve ridden doubles and trebles before but people seem to say when you get to my age that you’re over the hill.
“I don’t think I am, and if anything I’ve been training even harder the last five or six months.”
After leading all the way on Rich Jack, Gauci took satisfaction out of his win on Lord Durante, an on-pacer who got back to midfield before running home to win.
“I’ve also been hoping just for the opportunity to just not be a frontrunner, which you are labelled,” Gauci said.
“I was actually quite happy when Lord Durante got back because I always wanted to ride him back a little bit and it’s nice to win a race coming from back.
“I’m as keen as ever. I’m going on 50 this year and how much time I’ve got left, I don’t know.
“But as long as my body feels well – more so than ever right now I really want to have a real go.”
Gauci has ridden 27 winners this season in Victoria.
He says there are so many good riders coming through, it limits opportunities but says he’s lucky he’s still fit and able to do the job he enjoys.
“I’ve had a lot of people, my friends, helping me with training and with different parts of my body to keep me fit,” he said.
“I’m not going to set the world on fire but I’m still really keen. I might ride for another five or ten years, who knows.”
