THE HRO MIDWEEK INTERVIEW – JAKE BAYLISS TALKS ABOUT THE BULLSEYE HE SCORED IN THE ARCHER

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, May 7, 2025

The salute said it all. Not that he would have cared, but it would seem that Jake Bayliss’ timing of his fervent celebration in the saddle was just good enough to avoid a fine from the stewards. When things go right … they go right! HRO’s Graham Potter chatted to Bayliss about his big, $1 million race win aboard Lubrication in The Archer at Rockhampton on Sunday.

HRO:”Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. Who did you celebrate with and how did you pull up?”

JB:”Obviously, the temptation was to stay in Rocky for the night and celebrate with Max Whitby (the slot holder) and the owners, but I pulled the right rein by going back home to Brisbane.

“The last thing I would have wanted to do was wake up in Rockhampton feeling a little bit dusty when I had races at Ipswich on the Monday. I’d rather wake up in Brisbane on the dusty side than in Rockhampton.

“More importantly, it was my mum’s birthday, and, as it turned out, we got back in time to have a late celebration back home. The whole family was there. It was great."

HRO:”I know you have ridden Group 1 winners in New Zealand and Singapore, and I assume that nothing beats the thrill of your first Group 1 win, but where does The Archer win stand in your highlights reel and have you won a $1 million race before?"

JB:”It is definitely top three. Like you said, the first winner in Group 1 company is the most special one. That was in New Zealand. The Group 1 win in Singapore really ticked a box because it was a childhood dream to ride there. Obviously, I’m also got the smaller wins … the Gai Waterhouse at my home track at Ipswich. It obviously wasn’t the biggest prize-money stakes that I have won … but, as far as sentimental wins goes, I don’t think that will be beaten, unless I win the Ipswich Cup.

“As far as prize-money and big race wins in Queensland … where home is … The Archer was definitely a buzz … and, yes, The Archer was my first win in a $1 million race."

HRO:”You were the fourth different jockey to ride Lubrication in the horse’s last four starts. How did the ride come about?"

JB:”My manager, Liam Prior, is quite well in with the Matt Dunn camp and he is friends with Max Whitby, and they just decided to go ahead and run Lubrication in that spot and it was just a case of right time, right place for me. They didn’t have a jockey lined up and they said we will just put Jake on … and I’m obviously very grateful they made that decision”

HRO:”Lubrication was mostly unwanted in the betting, but he did actually shorten from $26 to a starting price of $17. He did have a bit to beat on paper. What were your expectations going out?"

JB:”Understandably he was slightly overlooked in the betting considering the depth of the field. I believe he was rock hard fit though. I went through his replays and saw the way he rattled home at Scone two starts back… and I just thought that a couple of times in his previous runs he had been a bit unlucky. He had been caught wide.If you go really deep into his form, he has got an astonishing turn of foot if he is slightly held up … and he hadn’t been able to capitalise on that sort of run until now
.
“Going into the race I thought … he was drawn cosy … I would just ride him dead cold and just save him for one crack and, if that worked out, I thought he would be half a chance. I certainly never ruled him out without a chance, that’s for sure.”

HRO: “The race itself … Lubricator was not the best away, but the draw allowed you a comfortable enough inside run in the early part?”

JB:”That’s right. Watching the replay again I think if he stepped well, he could have been out on a bit of a limb so, being a touch slow was probably a bit of a blessing in disguise and I just had to patient until the cows came home and wait for the run to come in the straight.”

HRO:”It wasn’t the easiest run in the straight. You turned with a line of horses in front of you and had to try and plot a path. It kook almost 200m, from the 400m to the 200m, to fully get out when twice it looked like you might be held in. I know things happen quickly and you have to just stick to the task, but what were you thinking at that time and were you worried that you might not get a run?”

JB:”That’s where doing the form helped. I always thought the long Rocky straight would work in our favour. You know, you can be luckless for two furlongs up the straight and still get out with a furlong to run … and that is pretty much how it played out. Any other straight you would probably go to the line hard held, but that is the blessing of the big straight at Rocky.

“An important part of what I was thinking out there comes back to the sessions I am having with my racing mentor Robbie Fradd. We have worked on a couple of things and one of those things was not to try and force things to happen … to be patient … and I’d say patience has been key to something like my last ten winners. We have been working in that regard and we are getting our reward. I feel like I can be patient on almost anything now. It’s easier when you are getting results.”

HRO:”Lubrication had his head to one side when angled out … once into the clear you straightened his head and you were then able to put your foot down. He literally seemed to take off. Did the manner in which he did that surprise you?”

JB:”It blew my mind how he really just let go and ran away from that quality field. It really blew my mind the way he did that. It certainly wasn’t a case of he had all of the favours and just held on. He had a bit to overcome but, once he got through, he really got the job done well against some quality horses.”

HRO:”The win in The Archer came at a good time as the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival is about to get into full stride. Obviously, it is morale-booster for you. How is the carnival shaping up for you?”

JB:“I am working hard for the main trainers who are supporting me. There is not a lot set in stone for me at the carnival right now. There are a couple of horses on my radar I am hoping will be key players in the carnival for me and, I think the opportunity of trying to ride light during the carnival will open up the doors a bit. I will try and ride 51.5kg … 52kg for the Winter carnival. Hopefully that will open up more opportunities for me.”

HRO:”We both agreed earlier that winning your first Group 1 was the ultimate thrill … but, just thinking about it, imagine winning a Group 1 in Queensland. That would surely go very close to equalling that first Group 1 win feeling.”

JB:"If I won a Group 1 in Queensland in front of family and friends … that would probably be top of the list. Nothing will compare to that."

HRO:”Lastly, you seem very content and comfortable with life both professionally and personally. Is that a fair assessment?”

JB: “Yes it is. II’ve got a good routine as far as riding trackwork, trials and race-day schedules. The work routine is Sunshine Coast on Tuesdays. Brisbane is on Thursdays and Saturdays, unless I’m going to duck to the Gold Coast or Beaudesert or something like that.

“On my down time I go out to the farm where I can just relax … switch the phone off … and just step away from it all for a couple of hours … and it doesn’t matter where I am I’ve got plenty of family support around me.

“Living in Queensland I have got the best of both worlds … and I am grateful for that!”

More articles