Grafton product and boom Queensland apprentice Bailey Wheeler will live out a lifelong dream today when taking a good book of rides at Royal Randwick.
The young gun was thrilled to be given the opportunity and is ready to make his mark in the NSW metropolitan ranks.
“It was always a dream to ride in Sydney,” Wheeler said.
“Sydney is where the top jockeys are, and I always wanted to go there when the opportunity came around, and now it has; I’m ready to take it by the scruff of the neck.”
Since riding his first winner on the Bjorn Baker-trained Airstrike at Goulburn in late 2021, the 18-year-old has been kicking goals, bringing up an incredible 118 winners at a commendable 15% win rate.
From starting his career with Kris Lees as a fresh-faced 15-year-old, Wheeler, the son of former jockey Daniel Wheeler, landed 53 winners in his first season before moving to Brisbane earlier this year and joining Chris Anderson’s team.
Wheeler has quickly become one of the hottest commodities in racing, landing another 65 winners this season while dominating at the Gold Coast with 29 victories and bringing up winners all over South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers.
“I moved to Brisbane in January and rode work for three weeks and picked up my first race ride, and after that, I’ve had ongoing support, and it’s been great,” Wheeler said.
“I’m now with Chris Anderson, and it’s been the best thing I could have done.
“I did consider going to Sydney, but I went up to Queensland for those opportunities, and because there weren’t as many apprentices competing for rides up there, I thought I could step into it and fly through my claim.
“I started well, and then got more outside work, and just kept riding winners, and I got those five winners at the Gold Coast that day and a few trebles, and I guess it put my name up in lights, and it’s just rolled on from there.”
At Royal Randwick, Wheeler will take rides on the Dar Lunn-trained Miracle Day ($61) in the 1400m Highway, the Nathan Doyle-trained Super Bright ($4.80) in the 1200m Midway, the Bjorn Baker-trained Wategos ($15) in the 1100m BM 78, the David Payne-trained Fox Fighter ($16) in the 1200m BM 88, and the Brad Widdup-trained Authentic Jewel ($8.50) in the 1100m BM 78.
“All of my rides are genuine chances, and I’m going there pretty confident,” Wheeler said.
“I wouldn’t leave any of them out of contention, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
Wheeler will come up against Sydney’s top apprentice jockeys, Dylan Gibbons, Zac Lloyd, Reece Jones, and Tyler Schiller, and the Northern Rivers product was looking forward to catching up with good mates while testing his mettle on what is shaping up to be a competitive program.
“I suppose it is a different kettle of fish, and it will be interesting to see where I stand,” Wheeler said.
“The NSW apprentice ranks are pretty strong, but Dylan, Zac, Reece and I are all very close mates, and we’ve always spoken, especially Dylan, because we were both apprentices to Kris Lees.
“When I started trialling, Dylan and Andrew Gibbobs taught me the ropes and were always there for me, so we’ll always be good mates.”
It’s been an incredible rise through the ranks for Wheeler, and there’s no doubt that all eyes will be on him in town today, and for fields, click here.
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