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By Ray Hickson

He’s been called a teen sensation, boy wonder, even a future Ryan Moore – it’s a bit to live up to but UK jockey Billy Loughnane is excited to begin his Sydney adventure at Rosehill on Saturday.

Irish born Loughnane only started race riding in 2022 and rode his first winner on November 28 of that year which makes what has happened since quite remarkable.

The 18-year-old was champion apprentice in England in 2023, notching 130 winners, and this year has added another 162 winners – a tally only bettered by Oisin Murphy and Rossa Ryan.

He’s sitting on 299 career wins and already had four Group 1 placings and a couple of wins at Royal Ascot, including the Group 2 Coventry Stakes aboard outsider Rashabar.

Billy Loughnane is a new name in the riding ranks in Sydney as the star UK hoop makes his local debut at Rosehill on Saturday. (Pic: Racing Post).

“I’ve had a great two years since I got my license and the last six to eight months in England have been great, I’ve been getting rides in Group 1s and big races and tripped all over the world,’’ Loughnane said.

“If you told me it’d be only two years since I had my first winner and I’d have ridden nearly 300 since then I’d have laughed but it’s been a great two years and hopefully we can build on it.

“I’ve been watching a lot of Australian racing for the past three or four months knowing I was coming over and I’m looking forward to it.”

Loughnane, whose father Mark is a trainer, arrived in Sydney on Sunday and rode trackwork at Randwick on Monday and Tuesday before sending a couple of horses around at the Canterbury trials.

He’s been riding work for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott as well as the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard and his first two rides are for O’Shea and Charlton on Good Banter in the TAB Handicap (2000m) and Captain Amelia in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1300m).

“I’ll learn a lot more after I’ve ridden in a couple of races but from watching it, and speaking to a few Australian jockeys, the gate speed is a lot quicker out here,’’ he said.

“They seem to get into positions a bit quicker here than in England and the tracks are a bit tighter so they’ll be good for me to learn off.

“Just having had a sit on the horses I’m riding they feel like they have nice chances and have drawn good stalls which helps.

“I’m used to riding horses at home I’ve never seen before but it does help.”

While he hasn’t set a concrete goal for his stay Loughnane describes himself as a competitive type and he’d be disappointed if he can’t ride a winner or two.

Loughnane is booked to stay until Christmas at this stage but has the option to extend, as he doesn’t need to be back in the UK until February, depending on how much he’s enjoying himself.

“I’d definitely be upset if I didn’t ride a winner, but I haven’t set too many expectations,’’ he said.

“I don’t know how I’m going to get on and what support I’m going to get but I’d like to ride as many winners as I can while I’m down here."

It’s no coincidence that Loughnane is being managed by Shaun Flaherty, who handles Tom Marquand’s bookings when he’s in Australia and he says “Aussie Tom” has made preparing for the trip easier.

“Tom’s helped me a lot with coming over, places to stay and things like that, before I got here,’’ he said.

“Tom’s agent is looking after me so he’s helped pretty much set me up.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting