Star jockey Brett Prebble is confident of a flying start at Rosehill on Saturday after making the move to Sydney.
While the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast is the focus of racing for the weekend, Prebble will ride his first Saturday in Sydney. With rides for Tulloch Lodge, Chris Waller, Annabel Neasham and Michael Freedman, he is hoping to quickly make his mark.
Brett Prebble has moved to Sydney to rejuvenate his riding career.Credit:Simon Schluter
After a couple years of struggling to build up a base back in Melbourne after a successful time in Hong Kong, Prebble decided to start anew in Sydney.
“Last year I was turning up in Melbourne for two or three rides that were 20-1 shots,” Prebble said. “Chris Waller had been supporting me down in Melbourne, but the majority of his horses are in Sydney. I just couldn’t get started.”
Prebble’s wins on Incentivise in the spring of 2022, including the Caulfield Cup, were quickly forgotten. He has a thriving business with Persuader, which supplies tack to jockeys around the world, but he wants to concentrate on his riding career and has the drive to get back to the top.
“The business is going great, but I’m a jockey and I want to ride winners,” Prebble said. “I’m just looking at this as a new start.
“I want and need to build connections because I was away for many, many years in Hong Kong and just don’t have those connections that other jockeys have these days.
“I need to work hard, and I’m really enjoying it.
“Even since being here in Sydney, I feel like I’m appreciated a bit more, and that makes you feel better and you’re happy to put in the hard yards and hard work.
“I feel like the rewards will come, and I really think I can make a go of it.”
A quick look at Prebble’s rides suggests he will get the chance to hit the ground running on Saturday with first starter Red Resistance for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the opener.
“He has won his last trial, and when you are riding for Gai and Adrian you know they will be well-educated and ready to go,” Prebble said.
Sacrimony is the first of his rides for Waller, who also has him on Saigon, Vowmaster and Oz Legend. Prebble will be able to ride lighter than most at 53kg.
“He is a Hall of Fame jockey and it’s good to have him in Sydney and riding a bit lighter than most,” Waller said. “He is not going to jump anyone, but we had success with him in Melbourne, so we will be using him.
“It was a bit hard to get him on weekend because he was very popular, which is a good sign for him.”
Prebble is keen to continue his association with Waller and believes that Saigon, which is a $5 favourite, can go one better than he did last week when beaten in photo by Frumos.
“I have ridden her in a better race than the one on Saturday in Melbourne and, going on what she did last week, she is in good form,” Prebble said. “Sacrimony is another nice ride, and it would be a good start to get a winner for Chris.”
Prebble has been splitting his time around the city riding work at Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm knowing it’s the best way to establish himself.
“It is really enjoyable,” Prebble said. “Just trying to get around a lot of trainers and let them know I’m here.
“When I have had my best success I have worked in with trainers – Terry O’Sullivan, John Meagher and David Hall – and when I worked in with trainers and really enjoy trying to work out horses with them.”
Prebble thinks his best ride might be the Neasham-trained Regal Pom, which was third to Mission Value on Boxing Day after a checked path in the straight.
“It is a family-owned horse and certainly going really well on its first-up run,” Prebble said. “If he had a bit more luck the other day he wins.”
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