What a sensational run it has been for Nick Heywood.
The Goulburn jockey keeps making headlines, whether it is winning feature races in the west, riding metropolitan winners, or dominating the South East racing scene.
The 27-year-old travelled to Dubbo late last month, riding a double while winning the Winter Country Classic on the Toby Pracey-trained Brogans Creek.
On Saturday, Heywood led the Scott Collings-trained Mogo Magic to a dominant victory in the $120,000 Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens, ensuring the Goulburn galloper is one of the first names on the list when Kosciuszko slots start getting handed out later this year.
Adding to a phenomenal run, Heywood took four rides on his home track on Friday and rode a winning treble, combining with three different trainers on the day.
Making it back-to-back wins for Braidwood trainer Ross Lavis, Heywood won on Knights Armour ($3.20) in the 2140m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
The four-year-old is turning into a promising stayer and thrived in the heavy ten conditions at Goulburn, running away for a two-length victory.
Heywood then won on the Jamie Stewart-trained Blue Grotto ($7.50) in the 900m Class One Handicap, with the pair commencing well from gate three before the in-form jockey peeled four wide and timed his run to perfection, winning by a nose over the Kevin Cassidy-trained Lord Remy (Molly Bourke, $6.50).
He had to wait until the final race of the day to bring up his treble, but Heywood did it easily on the Matthew Dale-trained Spitfire ($10) in the 1200m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
The Goulburn galloper was first-up from a 15-week spell and sat last in the six-furlong event before Heywood peeled to the extreme outside and flashed home strongly for a two-length win.
Heywood, who is nearing 500 career victories, having won 488 since kicking off his career in 2013, is now up to 50 winners for the season, and he’s been notching them at a 16.1% win rate.
His hot run could continue over the next few days as he treks to Wellington today for five rides, Dubbo on Monday for five more, and Gunnedah on Tuesday for another three.
At Wellington, Heywood is among the favourites to win the jockey’s challenge.
He teams up with Bathurst trainer Gayna Williams, riding Wasserman ($3.50) in the 1400m C2 Handicap, Hot Extraction ($2.90) in the 1000m Maiden Handicap, and Minnewater ($1.60) in the 1000m C1 Handicap.
He also jumps on the Neil Osborne-trained Good Kitty ($3.80) in the 1400m Maiden Plate and the Brett Thompson-trained Hampton Cove ($2.35) in the 1000m BM 50 Handicap.
For Goulburn results, click here.
For Wellington fields, click here.
For Dubbo fields, click here.
For Gunnedah fields, click here.
For Wellington markets, click here.
