First Group One win sinking in for Bayliss

Gr 1 Railway Stakes-winning jockey Jake Bayliss (right) with his brother Regan and mother Kellie.

Having made an impact in his summer stint in New Zealand, Australian jockey Jake Bayliss could look towards a longer stay next season.

Bayliss snared the first Group One win of his career in Monday’s Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on the Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained mare Volpe Veloce.

The 23-year-old took up the opportunity in November for a short-term stint riding in New Zealand for the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard stable and for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

Speaking to Melbourne radio station RSN927 on Tuesday, Bayliss indicated the possibility of chasing a New Zealand premiership next season.

“I was looking forward to just staying here until about March or April,” Bayliss said.

“But, look, things are going very well and I’ve spoken to Mike Moroney and Lance O’Sullivan, and I think we might make a goal next season to come over next season and try and win the premiership.

“I’d love to go to Hong Kong on a contract and obviously you’ve got to win the premiership here to do so. So definitely that’s a goal of mine.

“We haven’t really quite made up our mind about it yet, but I think we’re swaying towards that way.”

Bayliss said his first Group One victory was still sinking in.

“It still hasn’t hit home yet,” he said.

“It will sink in probably some time today but it still feels like a fairytale at the moment.”

The jockey’s younger brother Regan, himself a Group One-winning jockey, was at Ellerslie to share in the moment.

Melbourne-based Regan was also due to ride in the Railway but his mount Heroic Valour was scratched earlier in the day after a track downgrade.