Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Brodie Loy is very keen to be part of the $3 million Big Dance later this year and he sees talented galloper Eaglemont as his big chance.

Jockey Brodie Loy (Pic: Trackside).

Whether the Matthew Dunn-trained galloper gets enough weight in that feature race for Loy to get that chance is a problem for later but he's confident he’s on the right horse in Thursday’s $65,000 Cherry Sports Group Ballina Cup (1590m) to lock in eligibility.

Eaglemont finished a gallant sixth in the 2023 Little Dance after drawing wide and on the back of his last start Doomben win, Loy believes he’s a horse that has what it takes to make it to the big stage at Randwick in November.

“I ride him every day in trackwork so it’s good to finally get on his back again in a race to get him to the Big Dance,’’ Loy said.

“Matt’s starting to get a real knack with these European horses, and he just keeps improving. I can’t fault him, he’s getting better and better as time goes on.

“I can’t see why he can’t be there later on this year. Hopefully I can get him there and keep the ride.”

Loy’s only ride on Eaglemont was a forgettable one, at Ipswich last June, but he couldn’t be happier with the gelding’s progress in the almost month since his last start win over the mile.

With 61kg on his back, a kind barrier will go a long way to offsetting the impost and Loy would like to position Eaglemont, $2.80 with TAB on Wednesday, in a similar spot to where Blake Shinn had him at Doomben.

“He can get a little further back than what you’d like at Ballina but he raced a bit more forward in his last start,’’ he said.

“The race panned out perfect for him so hopefully he can jump and race turns out as it did then. He’s spot on, Matt’s got him ready to fire and hopefully knock off getting into the Big Dance.”

The 27-year-old would be the first to admit he’s had his share of troubles but he says the move to Murwillumbah last year has been the right one.

Initially he intended to join the Dunn stable as just a trackwork rider, given he was around 74kg at one stage, but teaming up with his partner Claire proved the spark he needed to get back into race riding style.

“I was at a crossroads because my weight was going so badly. I didn’t really know what to do about it,’’ he said.

“Matt offered me a job there as a stable rider and to ride trackwork. I said to him I’m going to pull the pin on riding and just ride trackwork.

“My weight was 74kg and I was pretty happy chipping away doing that. I met my partner Claire who is going to be a jockey, she’s apprenticed to Matt, and started doing training and dieting with her and weight started to fall off me.

“I was pretty chubby but I got back within striking distance of riding so I thought why not. Now I’m back riding full time hopefully the opportunities come back and I can get the rides.”

Dunn contributes five of Loy’s six rides at Ballina including in-form mare Spillify who eyes a hat-trick in the Koala Farms Handicap (1400m) following successive Lismore wins.

“She’s improving, Billy Healey sent her down in perfect condition,’’ he said.

“Sometimes those mares when they’re able to string a couple together they get a lot of confidence and hopefully she’s one that can keep building through the grades.”

Eaglemont wins at Doomben on December 30

Former Annabel Neasham-trained three-year-old Bravezel had his first start for Dunn at Lismore two weeks ago and finished a creditable second and has the chance to go one better in the Koellner Steel Handicap (1300m).

Loy was on board last start and said he’s well placed if he has come on from that run.

“He’s a horse that’s better with the cut out of the ground which he’s going to receive,’’ he said.

“He’s found a pretty nice race for him and hopefully he can be right on the money.”

All the entries, form and replays for Thursday's Ballina meeting