Mallyon gets Group race ride for Godolphin

Six mornings a week you will find Andrew Mallyon riding work for the powerful Godolphin operation at Flemington.

At the same track on Saturday he rides Malaise for Godolphin in the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes and is looking to make the most of the opportunity.

“I ride the horse just about in all his work and it’s nice to get the nod to ride him on race day,” Mallyon said.

Mallyon started riding work for Godolphin in Melbourne about 18 months ago.

“When I came back from my hip operation, I pretty much couldn’t get a ride,” Mallyon said.

“I was just forgotten about.

“I had ridden for them in the past, on and off, and just out of the blue (Melbourne foreman) David Charles gave me a phone call.

“He just said ‘until you get back on your feet, rides wise, do you want to come in six days a week and ride work for a wage.

“Don’t expect rides, but rides will come your way when they eventuate’.”

Mallyon started the next day.

“After probably three or four months I got my first ride for Godolphin and it won,” he said.

“And then it pretty much flowed from there.

“It sort of started off as nothing and it has got me to this stage, so I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Mallyon sits fourth on the Victorian country premiership with 45 wins, while he has three city wins for the season which have been for the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable.

His 48 wins have him 10th on the statewide premiership and he has had nine wins from 25 rides for Godolphin trainer John O’Shea this season.

Mallyon, who will be competing in his first Group race for the season, has not ridden Malaise in a race but believes he has improved since his last start-second at Sandown.

“He’s a very relaxed colt and I think the addition of the blinkers will definitely help,” he said.

“He’s going to need to improve in that calibre of race but I think he’s taken that next step.”

Malaise is at $26 while his stablemate Morton’s Fork is at $4.60.