Craig Kerry
Former professional bull-rider Braith Nock bought a surfboard when he had a loan stint with Randwick trainer Peter Snowden on the way to winning the metropolitan apprentice jockeys’ title last season.
After linking this time with Annabel and Rob Archibald at Warwick Farm, Nock is hoping to actually ride it, and get in more rounds of golf, while pushing for a second title and potentially a full-time move to the big smoke.
Nock used his previous loan stint, when he lived in Coogee, to launch a stunning run at the apprentices’ title. The Bendemeer-raised rodeo rider, though, craved the country life in Scone and returned to boss Brett Cavanough after the three months. He then still managed to rack up 40 victories, 16 more than his nearest rival, to claim the coveted city title.
This time, Nock is open to staying long-term and cementing his place in the Sydney ranks.
“Not much really fusses me … I don’t mind being the surfy kid every now and then, as long as I can get out and do stuff,” Nock said with a massive grin.
“It’s pretty sweet. I’m pretty laid-back. I reckon I can handle anything.
“I haven’t [surfed yet]. I’m too scared of sharks, but I’d love to learn to do it … I just need the chopper to see if there’s any sharks out there.”
The 24-year-old, the son of Tamworth trainer Jane Clement, is a few weeks into a three-month stint with the Archibalds while living in Chipping Norton. He has 27 wins in town to lead Siena Grima (16) and Anna Roper (15) for the junior Sydney title. Two weeks ago, he brought up his 300th career win with a double at Hawkesbury, including the group 3 Crown with Cavanough-trained Chidiac.
Winning back-to-back premierships is the immediate goal for Nock, who has 13 victories left before losing his 1.5-kilogram city claim. Beyond that, he will consider a full-time move to Sydney.
“I’m mostly trying to cement my premiership here before I think of doing anything like that,” said Nock, whose apprenticeship ends in January.
“I probably want to be around here while the big boys are away [in Queensland]. It doesn’t take much to peg that [premiership] lead back, if they have a couple of good days and I don’t.
“A [fulltime move] could be the plan. It’s just try to cement my spot as I come out of my time, and see what happens.
“Hopefully, coming into the winter I can get a bit of momentum and get some connections.”
Asked if he was better prepared for the city life this time, he said: “I guess so. I’m getting into my golf a little bit now, so I get out and do that in my free time.
“It’s a bit further from the beach this time, but it’s pretty quiet.
“It’s not a whole lot different [at the Archibalds], it’s the same job. It’s a bit of a different system. They are a bit more on paper, but there’s not a lot of difference between how the horses work. It’s pretty easy really.”
The Archibalds have stables at Scone and will make their presence felt at that club’s carnival on Friday and Saturday with potentially 30-plus runners. Nock will ride predominantly for the stable at the carnival, which includes the listed Scone Cup on Friday. He scored his first stakes race victory with Archibalds-trained Cristal Clear in the group 2 Ajax Stakes in March, but Rob Archibald said he would be scratched from the Cup to run in Queensland.
Nock is set to ride $4.20 favourite Formal Display in the Cup, after he gained another scratching on Thursday to make the field. A fallback option for the combination on Saturday was the listed Luskin Star Stakes, where he was $8.
One of Nock’s better hopes on Saturday is Hellenic Belle ($9.50) for the Archibalds in the listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) for two-year-old fillies. Nock was aboard last start when she won the Wellington Boot (1100m).
“She had a tick-over trial at Muswellbrook and the ground was a bit hit and miss there, so I just let her be happy where she was,” he said.
“They probably went a bit crazy up in front, so I just sat back and just let her be comfortable. I thought she travelled really well.
“She’s drawn well [in three] and will put herself up on speed.”
His best chance on Saturday could be the Archibalds’ Hay Street ($5) in the sixth, an 1100m benchmark 78. He was third last start at Randwick after back-to-back midweek city wins.
“He found the 1000 a bit sharp the other day,” he said.
“It just found him out the last 100, but back up in trip should suit him.”
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