Wiggins Puts On A Show With Cluden Five Timer

Owner Tom Hedley’s go-to jockey Ryan Wiggins has rocketed into contention for a second successive Townsville jockey’s title after bagging five winners on Tuesday.

Wiggins sent the bookies reeling, winning on five of his six rides on heavily backed runners to level up with Aidan Holt on the premiership table on 17 wins.

The Brisbane-based hoop won three races in the Hedley orange – She’s A Beauty and Burlington Arcade for trainer Steve Royes and Lowlands for Steve Massingham.

He also claimed wins on San Juan for Jamie McConachie and capped the day with a big win on Rhegion in the last, also for the Massingham stable.

“It’s my first five timer here but I’ve ridden a couple in Rocky and in Cairns a few times and rode four and a second at Doomben one day,” Wiggins said.

“We’ve had a quiet couple of months after a big season last season. There’s a lot of new horses and we’re just filtering through them now and they’re just starting to hit their straps at the right time.

“We’re winning a couple of races, they’ll have a few weeks break and then get ready for the carnivals.

“It should really start to crank up now and that was one of those days where things went our way.”

Wiggins believes Burlington Arcade and Rhegion can measure up to carnival class after impressive wins.

Burlington Arcade notched his third win from four Townsville starts since coming north from Victoria over 1200m and according to Wiggins will find his sweet spot at 1400m.

Rhegion showed his liking for the Cluden 1400m with his second win at the trip from as many starts.

Rhegion jumped from the extreme outside barrier in 14 but Wiggins for once was glad to be drawn wide.

“He came up from Sydney with some problems, including barrier issues. After his first win here he missed the kick in Cairns. He’s one of those horses you just don’t want to be waiting in the gates for long, so going in last was perfect today,” Wiggins said.

Tuesday’s haul topped off a big month for Wiggins who landed the $500,000 QTIS 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast on Swift Dragon for Liam Birchley on March 16.

He’s now looking forward to reuniting with Cleveland Bay Hcp winner Speed Legend in Brisbane on Saturday as he kicks off a campaign aimed at the Archer in Rockhampton.

“It’s obviously only a 1000m on Saturday, but it’s a good starting point,” Wiggins said.

“He goes around in a BM85 1200m in two weeks and then hopefully he’ll get a slot in the Archer.

“I galloped him at Eagle Farm this morning and he’s settled in really well at Matty Hoystead’s.

“He’s a nine-year-old but the way he gallops he feels like a two-year-old. How far he goes on will obviously depend on his he goes this prep.

“Regardless, he’s been such a good horse.”