Jordan Childs will return from a careless riding suspension with a milestone in his sights.
Childs has been stuck one win off outriding his claim for almost a month since winning the Listed Straight Six on Tashbeeh on May 20.
He is hoping it won’t take much longer to notch the win he needs once he returns from a 10-meeting suspension from the Flemington meeting last Saturday week.
The apprentice was outed for his ride on the Darren Weir-trained Kiwia, one of two second placings on the day.
He returns on Thursday ahead of the next metropolitan meeting at Flemington on Saturday.
“It has been a little bit frustrating, especially when you keep running close seconds and thirds,” Childs said.
“But I’ve got enough time to do it. I’ve got until the end of the season. I just want to get it over and done with though.
“It didn’t take me long to get down from needing 10 winners to needing one. Then the last three weeks or so when I’ve been sitting on (needing) one winner, it’s been a bit frustrating.
“It’s every apprentice’s goal to outride their claim, and not a lot do it. So it’s good to know that I’ve got the support from all the trainers. And I’m nearly there.”
Childs, the son of former top jockey Greg Childs, said the short suspension had had a silver lining.
“It gives me a chance to freshen up a little bit away from racing, clear my head and then go back into Saturday feeling good,” he said.
Childs has ridden 26 metropolitan winners this season to be fourth on the Melbourne apprentices’ premiership behind Beau Mertens (64), Ben Allen (45) and Ben Thompson (34).
