Apprentice Bailey Wheeler lands ride on 2024 Golden Slipper runner-up Coleman for Group 2 Victory Stakes
The 20-year-old has been handed a golden opportunity to put his name in lights on the first day of the Queensland winter carnival, earning the plum ride in the $300,000 race over 1200m on the Chris Waller -trained 2024 Golden Slipper runner-up Coleman.
On Friday morning, Coleman was the equal $5.50 favourite for the race alongside Tony Gollan's stable star Hidden Wealth in a wide-open contest.
The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy, with champion jockey Craig Williams aboard, was $6.50 while the Gollan-trained Freedom Rally had firmed from $26 to $16.
Asked what it would mean to win the Victory Stakes on Saturday in a quality field, Wheeler said: 'I think it would stand me in very good stead for the rest of the carnival and to ride my first Group winner for Mr Waller would be the highlight of my career for sure.
'Let's hope I steer him in the right direction because he'll be very hard to beat.'
When Wheeler received the text message from his manager revealing he would be riding Coleman, the first person he rang was his proud dad.
'I was very excited,' said Wheeler, who won the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on the Mack Griffith-trained gelding Compelling Truth on Thursday.
'As soon as I got the text message I actually rang my Dad and said 'how good's this?'
'It's a great opportunity to ride in a Group 2 race for Mr Waller and this horse, he's very smart.
'I've ridden in a Group 2 in Sydney but this is definitely the best Group opportunity I've had since I've been an apprentice.
'It gives me confidence that he (Waller) has confidence in me. It's very exciting and the horse's trials have been superb leading into Saturday.'
Coleman finished narrowly behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly Lady Of Camelot in a thrilling $5m Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in March last year when the colt was trained by Matt Laurie.
His best results since that tremendous effort have been third in the Group 1 Sires Produce (1400m) at Randwick last April and second in the Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) at Rosehill in October.
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Coleman missed this year's autumn carnival in Sydney after having surgery to remove a fragment from his fetlock.
The Victory Stakes will be his first race under Australia's top trainer Waller following disgruntled owner Sharon Cummings' failed Supreme Court attempt to stop the colt from running in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield in November when he finished sixth out of seven horses as the $3 favourite while under the tutelage of Laurie.
Wheeler said he relished the pressure of features and would treat the Victory Stakes like any other race on multiple Group 1-placed colt Coleman, which has won $1.3m in prizemoney.
'There's a little bit of pressure but I enjoy that, it gives me something to look forward to,' he said.
'I treat it the same, it's just another race basically. It's definitely going to be a big experience.
'I enjoy the pressure, especially around such a live chance. Riding for Mr Waller in a big race, it gives me such great hope. I'm excited.'
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