Jockey Tony Pattillo and Art Success won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm in 2006
Jockey Tony Pattillo will take to the track to ride in this Saturday’s Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm after a successful comeback from injury.
Eagle Farm is a track much-loved by the jockey, who won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup there aboard Art Success in 2006.
Pattillo then continued on with Art Success to finish 16th in the Melbourne Cup behind the winner Delta Blues.
“I’ve had two goes in a 3200-metre race, I won one and made it to a Melbourne Cup and although we finished down the track in that it was still a thrill,” Pattillo said.
The jockey was forced out of the saddle for ten months after suffering a break to his shoulder in a race fall in Townsville last July.
“It was a pretty nasty break, I had to have a couple of operations and they cut the end of my collarbone out,” Pattillo said.
“I’ve only been back about two months so I’m just starting to find my way back through the field.”
Pattillo is hopeful that his mount in this Saturday’s Queensland Cup, Bundeebear, will help him to continue his successful comeback.
The jockey rode Bundeebear when he finished fifth behind Regal Gaze at the Sunshine Coast three starts back.
“I was very impressed with his run and the way he quickened up at the 600 metres in that race,” Pattillo said.
“He knocked up a bit going to the line but I was very keen for them to press on and give him a go at better company.”
Pattillo doesn’t perceive the 3,200 metre distance of the Queensland Cup as a problem for the horse.
“The horse is super relaxed, I’m very confident he will see the 3200 metres right out and I’m very happy to have that quality of ride in the race,” he said.
The jockey favours his chances against the early favourite, Tinseltown, who will carry the top weight in the race.
“He’s not too bad a horse but I think he’s probably weighted out of the race,” Pattillo said.
“He’s got 58 kilos, not many can carry it over two miles.
“It definitely brings him back to the rest of us and of the others, there’s no real standout.”
