Racing: Young Aussie riders labelled spoilt and selfish

Jason Collett is seen as a role model for other apprentices. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand apprentice Jason Collett isn't just setting Sydney alight with his talent, he's being hailed as a role model.

In a week when New South Wales apprentice jockeys have come under fire as a bunch with too much money and not enough discipline, Collett is setting a standard.

Chris Waller, a former New Zealander himself and who has Collett on loan for his stable, says: "He's a dead-set role model.

"He is a hard worker and the same kid every day. He has a good head on his shoulders and is someone other apprentices should be looking up to."

Two of Collett's winning treble in Sydney on Wednesday were for Waller's leading stable.

Waller's praise of his apprentice was in response to the strife many of Sydney's apprentice jockeys have found themselves in, which has prompted Racing NSW to gather together all junior riders from around the state. The meeting will be held in Sydney tomorrow, with drugs and alcohol abuse high on the agenda.

This week former champion Sydney jockey and current trainer Kevin Moses lambasted the state's young riders.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald's Max Presnell, Moses claims young jockeys are mollycoddled. Apprentices, he said, who once had to put their hands up to go out at night, now have the freedom of the town.

"Racing NSW has been no help," Moses stressed. "Imagine an 18-year-old kid having a unit at Coogee, a car, getting $5000 a month and given the opportunity to do what they want to do."

In his opinion they just aren't ready for the pitfalls and should get life experience.

"For the last 18 months, about four times a year, I go to St Canice's at the Cross where they do a breakfast every Sunday for homeless," Moses explained. "Now, all these people aren't on drugs. But there's 250 to 300 who are homeless and come there. Some are the nicest people you'll ever meet, then you'll get the druggos, and others that haven't put anything away. Last time I was there I came across a bloke who said he had been on my table at a charity dinner. Alan Jones spoke. So I asked, 'What are you doing here?' His businesses went bad, he still had a home but had to come to these places to eat."

Moses took (apprentice tutor) Maurice Logue one Sunday to assess the suitability. "I said to Maurice we should be getting at least four of our kids to go once or twice a year to show them what drugs do to people, and also what happens if you don't watch your money," he said. "One Sunday I arranged to take three apprentices, not one turned up."

Only recently Josh Adams, a highly promising rider, was busted for drugs. Others go absent without leave. Discipline seems to be a major problem. "Too much money and unsupervised time," Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy admits.

This week troubled apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins was stood down indefinitely by Racing NSW stewards for failing to fulfil riding engagements at Warwick Farm, a common occurrence for the teenager.

Moses stressed the lack of work ethic, too. "These kids don't work any more," he maintained. "They live like jockeys. Gai [leading trainer Gai Waterhouse] is probably the only one that treats them like they should be treated, makes them work [in the afternoon, too] and then they leave her."

Tuition also is lacking. "A lot of money is spent looking after these kids yet not one person says you've made a mistake here, watch this ride, watch this here," Moses said. "I know myself I might say something and just walk away. They should be taught how to ride better. A coach. Tennis players have a coach, Tiger Woods does ...

"A year or so ago we had the best bunch of kids you'd find, the Berry boys, Daniel Ganderton, Jamie Quinnell, Mitch Beadman, Brenton Avdulla.

"The two Berry boys are still going good because their mother and father are behind them. I once said to Daniel, 'When you are not riding in two years time it's not the way you ride but it's your attitude ..."'

Ganderton rode Firebolt to win in Sydney for New Zealand trainer Roger James last year and has been in and out of trouble before and since.

There is an irony in the position New Zealand jockeys find themselves in throughout Australia.

Once thought to be not good enough to compete with the best Australia has to offer, they are now considered role models.

Former South Island rider Damian Browne currently holds the strike rate record for metropolitan racing throughout Australia.

And while Collett is knocking them dead in Sydney, Daniel Stackhouse is hitting them to the boundary in Melbourne.

Remarkable.

NZ jockeys

* Pukekohe apprentice Jason Collett is being held up as an example.

* Sydney's apprentice jockeys are being advised to follow the same path as the New Zealander.

* NSW young riders are described by some as rabble.Jason Collett is seen as a role model for other apprentices.