October
JanuaryNot much in it
Sam Hyland described it as “a brilliant front-running ride by Jarrod Fry”.
It was only a small race at Ararat, but Fry stacked them up on the favourite, Saratoga Song. It was such a good ride that they posted 1:40.23 for the 1600 metres on a good 4.
The point is that Fry is just one of 100 jockeys in Victoria alone capable of a “brilliant” ride,
A couple of years back I can even recall Rick McIntosh describing the “unfashionable” Dean Larsson’s winning effort on Unbelievable Buy as an “unbelievable” ride.
That only underlines the futility of those who try to argue that one jock is better than the other when the difference between the top 100 is so marginal.
Think of all the successful apprentices over the decades who proved their skills against the elite but didn’t go on as senior riders.
They didn’t lose their ability – only their ability to claim. Experience, in fact, should have made them better riders.
Often the difference between the “top 20” and the next 80 has more to do with circumstance and good management. Greater opportunity brings the ability to win more races and so the perception is that they are “better” jocks.
Need I mention Michelle Payne, who showed what she could do once presented with opportunity?
When Greg Childs retired he refused to be drawn into the question of nominating the best jockey he ever rode against.
The field of choice was too great. It was too close a call. And that’s good enough for me.
Great Western (Vic)