58-year-old Jockey Salutes At Sandown

Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00

Victoria's oldest jockey Neville Wilson showed he was far from a spent force when he scored an upset win on Lots Of Swing in the Rawdon Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.

The 58-year-old had an operation for a career-threatening bone spur on a shoulder earlier this year and was out of action for six months.

"Everyone told me not to but I'm glad I did," Wilson said.

The Camperdown jockey, who is also a dairy farmer, had only the one ride at the Sandown meeting on Lots Of Swing who had won at Flemington and Caulfield before failing at Bendigo last Wednesday week.

"He must have been keen to come down for only the one ride," said Geelong trainer Bruce Elkington.

"I thought he was a chance in an open race.

"I had to run him at Bendigo as he had missed a run due to a wet track."

Sent out at 25-1, Lots Of Swing came round the turn three wide but was poised to strike and got home by a long neck from Show Barry with Snappa Cane a half-head away third.

Wilson returned to race riding on October 1 and has no thoughts of retirement.

Photos: Quentin Lang