Dylan Gibbons gem lands top prize with Hollywood Hero at Randwick
Dylan Gibbons, riding with renewed confidence, produced a masterful rails-hugging ride on Hollywood Hero at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
For a few strides around the turn, Gibbons looked to get out wider but decided to abruptly switch back to the inside and that proved decisive as Hollywood Hero railed through to win the Charity Challenge Handicap (1600m).
Gibbons is two months into his comeback from injury after he spent five months convalescing from a shoulder injury.
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'I came back at a tricky time during the (autumn) carnival but everything happens for a reason,' Gibbons said.
'This is the best I have ever felt on a horse, physically and emotionally, and I'm really enjoying my riding.
'I had a long apprenticeship but I've come out as a senior now and I'm in a very good head space.
'Physically, I've never been better and I feel very confident with my riding.'
Gibbons demonstrated that confidence when he drove Hollywood Hero ($5.50) through along the inside to run down Cool Jakey ($3.40 favourite) and win by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Nellie Laylax ($21), the Irish import, was excellent at his Australian debut for Annabel and Rob Archibald to finish a length away third just in front of Green Fly.
'I was wanting speed but not quite that much speed, they went hard up front,' Gibbons said.
'I was worried he might find it tough to pick his feet up in the heavy going but he was always travelling really well. We got the run through and he was too good.
'He has loads of ability but I don't think we have seen the best of him yet.'
Hollywood Hero is trained by Bjorn Baker who continued his breakout season preparing his 78th city winner for the season to be second in the Sydney premiership behind Chris Waller on 122 wins.
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Baker revealed he give Gibbons a very simple set of riding instructions pre-race.
'Hollywood Hero is a strange horse as he just has to be completely switched off early in his races,' Baker said,
'I emphasised that to Dylan and he was on the same page. It was a great ride.'
Hollywood Hero scored the fifth win of his 29-start career, taking his career earnings to more than $450,000 prizemoney, going a long way to recouping the $600,000 part-owner owner Ozzie Kheir and the other syndicate members spent purchasing the gelding as a yearling.
Baker is always promoting his business and wasn't about to let an opportunity pass.
'Hollywood Hero was an expensive buy for Ozzie and the team, the horse is paying his way and I'm grateful to train for them,' Baker said.
'But I'm hopeful to get more of their horses – Ozzie have you had a look at my (training) statistics!'
Baker admitted he was unsure of immediate plans for Hollywood Hero but long-term he has the Little Dance in mind at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
'We have got something to look forward to with the Little Dance in spring,' Baker said. 'It's a big race in its own right.'
Hollywood Hero gave Gibbons only his 10th winner of his injury-ravaged season – a far cry from the century of winners he rode in 2021-22 and again in 2022-23 – but it was a milestone 400th career winner for the talented young jockey.
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Baker and Gibbons then combined for a brace of winners in the closer with Miss Kim Kar in the Wilson Asset Management Handicap (1400m).
But Gibbons' ride on Miss Kim Kar was a polar opposite of his winning effort on Hollywood Hero as this time he brought the three-year-old filly down the extreme outside in the straight.
Gibbons has had more success with the Baker stable than any other trainer but Kris Lees and the trainer took particular satisfaction watching the young jockey guide Hollywood Hero and Miss Kim Kar home.
'Dylan's a great person and I've had a lot of luck with him,' Baker said. 'He rode my top sprinter Ozzmosis to his second win on this track.
'He's coming back off that shoulder injury but his career is starting to get some momentum going again.'
Gibbons, who has ridden two Group 1 winners on Explosive Jack in the 2023 Sydney Cup and Kalapour in the 2024 Tancred Stakes, revealed he rides trackwork regularly for Baker at Warwick Farm.
'I think it is Mr Baker's favourite day of the week because he smashes me every Wednesday morning,' Gibbons said.
'But if you go and do the hard work, he rewards you accordingly. He's great to ride for.'
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