Felix Answers the Call on Flying Roweiner

Veteran jockey Jeffrey Felix closed in on another career milestone after answering a last minute call-up to win on classy three-year-old Roweiner’s Dance at Cluden Park on Saturday.

The popular jockey, whose 35-years in the saddle has included 871 winners on 60 race tracks across Queensland and NSW, is now just two wins short of 300 victories at Cluden Park.

For Felix the ride on the Bill Kenning-trained Roweiner’s Dance in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode 3YO Hcp (1300m) came out of the blue after fellow hoop Stephen Wilson was indisposed.

“I got the call to ride the horse at 10.30am this morning. It was a nice surprise,” Felix said.

“I rode the horse in a barrier trial a few months ago so I knew a bit about him. That day Bill said this thing just gets out and goes. It was half mile but he said I want you to go back and ride him off the pace. I thought fair enough, cool, and he settled ok and ran on really well.

“I got the call this morning. Billy said I want you to ride him the same way you did in the jump out.

“I don’t know if I was supposed to be last but the way the race was run I got a good run all the way through and just waited until we turned the corner before I let him go.

“He really flew.”

A jubilant Bill Kenning now plans to send Roweiner’s Dance for a spell with next year’s Cleveland Bay Hcp a long-range target after Saturday’s impressive last-to-first win – his first victory beyond 1000m.

Saturday’s win was the home-bred gelding’s eighth win from 12 career starts and a victorious homecoming after two unplaced runs in Brisbane.

Kenning said a decision to take the blinkers off was a key to getting the Sidestep youngster to settle.

“That was his run over the trip and I thought it was an enormous effort,” Kenning said.

“When he ran the two unplaced runs in Brisbane I thought maybe spell him, and then I thought ‘no I want to get satisfaction’. You can’t put them out not knowing and I know in my own heart he can run 1300m and he’s a Cleveland Bay horse.

“You can’t put them out hoping they’ll get the trip, at least now I know he will get 1300m plus.

“He will spell now, the spell he was going to have for a long time. He won’t peak until Cleveland Bay time, whether he has to win another race to qualify we’ll just have to see.

“He’s only a baby and he’s done everything.”

“That’s the first time he’s raced without blinkers and he settled beautifully.

“He trialled without them and I thought then that’s good enough for me.

“When Stephen Wilson couldn’t take the ride I automatically went to Jeffrey.

“He’s the loveliest bloke in the World and he did a great job.”

The win was a big boost for Felix whose career has featured victories in most of the North’s major races, including back to back Cleveland Bay Hcp wins at Cluden on Sea Zulu.

Considered one of the best young riders in the north in his era, Felix ventured south for a stint as stable jockey for legendary Albury/Wodonga trainer Richard Freyer, and for a time was based in south-east Queensland.

The 51-year-old has struggled with injuries from a number of serious falls, the latest earlier this year in a track work incident which sidelined him for four months.

But the affable hoop has always battled his way back to the track and maintained a reputation as one of the hardest working jockeys in the State.

In more recent years Felix has chased opportunities at western meetings, clocking up many thousands of kilometres on the road.

These days though, Felix is happy to be winding down the travel and staying closer to home to ride plenty of track work at Cluden for appreciative local trainers.

No more big western trips, and all-nighters on the road.

“I’m quite happy at the moment, I like the track work. I’m getting a few rides with heavy weights…60kg are good - you don’t have waste for them,” he says with the trademark Felix grin.

“I’m sort at that stage -  I’m quite happy riding track work and getting paid for that and they’re (trainers) all appreciating it, and I’m picking up a few rides.

“When I was going west I’d have to leave the day before and come back that night. It was too many hours on the road.

“I’ll go out for the odd meeting if someone wants to get me out there, but I’m loving track work.

“I can eat and drink whatever I like. And having the few rides here I get to go home in my own car - even if I don’t ride a winner - I’m looking after myself.”

“I’ve lost count of the number of tracks I’ve ridden on over the years. I’m getting towards the end of my career but I’ve done a lot and been to a lot of places.”

Pictured: Veteran jockey Jeffrey Felix greets the judge with Roweiner's Dance after a last minute call-up.

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