Darryl Sherer
Victorian jockey Jake Bayliss is coming to New Zealand to fill a unique role.
He will be riding for the Matamata training partnerships of Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard at Ballymore Stables and for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Wexford Stables.
“Mike Moroney called me on Tuesday morning and asked me to dinner that night to meet someone and it was Lance O’Sullivan,” Bayliss said.
“They asked a few questions and then asked me to come to New Zealand for between four and six months and ride for both of them.
“I’ve ridden quite a few winners for Mike, he’s been a good supporter of mine in Melbourne. There will be some great opportunities for me in New Zealand over the summer carnivals so I’m really looking forward it.”
Bayliss isn’t a complete stranger to New Zealand having crossed the Tasman in 2015 to ride Iffraaj’s daughter Trinity Hill in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for expatriate Kiwi trainer Francis Finnegan, now based at Cranbourne.
They finished seventh in the Riccarton classic behind Risque, who was prepared by Stephen Autridge and subsequently joined the Victorian operation of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Bayliss, who can comfortably ride at 54kg, was originally from Queensland before he and his younger brother Regan, who won the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on Redkirk Warrior in March, moved to Victoria as teenagers with their father Jamie to pursue careers as jockeys.
“I was apprenticed to Michael Kent at Cranbourne and I did my last three months with David Hayes,” Bayliss said.
“I came out of my time about three months ago and I’ve been going reasonably well since, but things over here get tough at spring carnival time.”
Bayliss, who has a career tally of 160 winners, has secured one ride on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
He will be aboard a Kiwi-bred sprinter, the Doug Harrison-trained Search Squad in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) and he expected a bold showing from the son of Falkirk. Soon after, Bayliss will be on a plane to New Zealand.
“Mike wants me to leave Melbourne Cup night and he’s booking me for rides on Wednesday (at Waipa),” he said.
“If I’m not locked into anything for Mike or Lance then they said they would help me get outside rides. I’ve just turned 23 and I’m looking forward to the new experience.” – NZ Racing Desk.