Wood Set To Make Melbourne Debut
- Friday, 04 June 2010 11:27
While the Melbourne racing fraternity are already aware of Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins after he rode a double at Caulfield earlier in the year, it’s another equally gifted apprentice that will fly under the radar at Flemington on Saturday.
But it won’t be long before this young hoop commands attention for all the right reasons.
Queenslander Justin Wood will ride for the first time in the Melbourne metropolitan area with two rides at headquarters.
Wood, who turns 19-years-old next month, is indentured to Tony Vasil at Caulfield for the next three months.
He will partner Dorsoduro in the Geoffrey Levett 0-82 Handicap (1100m) for his boss and rank outsider Star Encounter in the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) later in the day.
Wood said the opportunity to work with Vasil was organised by master Steele Ryan.
“He knew the winter would be hard for a claimer and always had plans to test me down here,” Wood told the Virtual Formguide.
However Wood is no stranger to Victorian racing. He had his first race ride at Stony Creek aboard Affinis on November 9, 2007 and won his first ever race at Casterton aboard Adder Boy two rides later.
Wood only rode briefly in Victoria before returning to Queensland where he has won such races as the North Queensland Amateur Cup and the 2008 Beaudersert Cup.
To say Wood was born into racing is a severe understatement. His father Mark is a jockey and so is his younger brother Mitchell.
On the maternal side of the family, his grandfather Thomas Brown and great grandfather Thomas Brown Snr were also jockeys.
“Having a father in racing has meant the world to me.”
“He is one of my hardest critics and has pushed me to achieve everything I can.”
Despite that rich background in racing, the journey to where he is today hasn’t been without its setbacks.
Wood broke his femur in January 2009 and was sidelined through injury for four months.
It was at that time Wood decided to focus his mind on breaking into the difficult Brisbane jockey ranks by refining his talents.
“I have always watched a lot of top riders and have just tried to base my own style on what I liked.”
The hunger to succeed was insatiable and it was inevitable the teenager with maturity beyond his years would be spotted by wise judges.
As Wood says himself, “A good attitude in racing goes a long way.”
A week after winning the Murwillumbah Cup aboard Gather last November, Wood registered his first metropolitan win when he expertly steered Drenalin to victory at Eagle Farm.
His daring front-running ride earned the plaudits from many good judges and he hasn’t looked back since with his tally of metro wins now into double figures.
Wood says he is comfortable with the timing of his move which saw him almost make an immediate impact, finishing second last Thursday at Ballarat aboard the Vasil-trained $21 hope Belle Elegante.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to set up down here in Melbourne, I just wasn’t sure when,” he said.
“I’d like to further my ability in racing and gain some experience from down here as well as minimise my claim in town.
“If the opportunity goes well for me, I’d be more than happy to stay.”
Picture: Ross Stevenson
