Hard Work Paying Off for Comeback King Holt

Jockey of the moment Aidan Holt was almost incredulous when his winning run continued with another treble at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Holt showed why he’s the hottest jockey on the northern country circuit when he took his season tally to 34 wins at an impressive strike rate of 22.4% with last weekend’s haul.

The Townsville based hoop was again a big hit with punters guiding favourites Coppabella Road, Better Breakout, and Garinion Righ to victory.

“The run’s still going,” said Holt who has ridden 13 winners in his 50 rides since the beginning of November. 

“The way the horses went today you’d think: how easy is this game but it obviously doesn’t work like that all of the time

“I do a lot of work just with our own horses. The only other person I ride work for is Rhein Sewell,

“But it’s a flow on effect. You ride winners and the opportunities seem to come along from other trainers.”

With careful management of his weight, Holt is living the life of a full time jockey for the first time in years.

His well documented battle with weight cut short his career as a leading apprentice in Brisbane where in a short time he booted home 17 winners at Eagle Farm and another 10 at Doomben before the constant wasting became too much.

But Holt never gave up on his dream to ride. He renewed his jockey license every year and periodically made a comeback for heavy weight rides.

But over the past year, on a lean diet and hard discipline, he is riding as low as 57.5kg and enjoying his best run in the saddle since those early days.

“It was never not wanting to do it. I always wanted to ride,” Holt said.

“I’m managing the weight pretty well but today was a bit tough with the heat.

“The 57.5kg all day was hard. Ideally I’d like to take maybe take three or four of the better ones and that way give yourself a bit of a breather.”

“Having seven days between meetings is not much chop for me. I’ve got to have that one midweek, even if it’s a 59kg or 60kg ride, just something to keep me out there.

“Otherwise it’s hard to keep the weight off. But at the moment I’m on a good run.

“I obviously didn’t expect it to go this well. There’s a handful of good riders who get the top rides and I just didn’t expect any to be coming my way.

“To be honest I was just as happy riding in the bush and there’s a few places on my bucket list where I want to go before I pull the pin. 

“I don’t know why but I just want to do Mt Isa. Every time you see them on Facebook the club and everyone out there seem to really love their racing.

“I like going to the bush. There’s always a jockey shortage somewhere and it helps the trainers get a run.”

Holt’s winners Coppabella Road and Garinion Righ brought up winning doubles for trainers Steven Royes and Georgie Holt who also won with Pontius and Sweet Kisses respectively.