Regan Bayliss is only a month into his move to the Sydney jockey ranks, but on Saturday he landed his first major win when he partnered Libertini (I Am Invincible) to score an upset victory in the G2 Premiere S. at Randwick.
The 23-year-old returned from a stint in Hong Kong at the start of the year and announced in August that he was going to continue his riding career in Sydney for the foreseeable future, basing himself with the Anthony Cummings stable.
Bayliss said it was exciting to score the win aboard Libertini so early into his time with Cummings, and believes it was important to land such a victory for his career in NSW going forward.
“Yeah it definitely was (exciting),” Bayliss said. “I think I’ve been in Sydney a month now since I moved from Melbourne, so it was good to be able to get that opportunity early and it was good to be able to capitalise on it.
“It is very important (to win the big races) and as I said, it’s all about getting the opportunities.
“She (Libertini) was a great opportunity to have in that race and I think there were a lot of eyes watching that race.
“It was obviously a massive lead-up to The TAB Everest in a couple of weeks' time so it was good to be able to capitalise on that opportunity and get the result for Anthony (Cummings), Gerry Harvey and all the owners.”
Libertini has now locked in her slot for The Everest and while there are no certainties in racing, Bayliss is likely to retain the ride for the $15 million race.
He is no stranger to the lucrative sprint, having partnered Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) in the inaugural event in 2017, but Bayliss is excited to potentially have the opportunity to ride a well-fancied chance in this year’s race.
“Yeah most definitely, it is very exciting,” Bayliss said. “I rode in the first Everest on Redkirk Warrior and obviously he was a chance going into that race, but I’d be more excited and more confident going into the race with a horse like Libertini coming off the back of that strong win on Saturday.
“I think she’s right there in the market and she should be after Saturday, I think she’d be a great chance in it.”
Sydney opportunity
Bayliss has already been associated with big stables having been apprenticed to Peter Moody and then Lindsay Park, but he said when the opportunity to join Cummings in Sydney arose, it was one that he had to make the most of.
“Myself and my team and Anthony Cummings, we had a few conversations with him and he was keen to get me to Sydney,” Bayliss said. “It was just the right timing and as it’s worked out so far, it’s been a very successful move.
“I knew it was going to take a little bit of time to build all these new relationships and get into the groove of things but things have happened quicker than what I expected. It’s been a good start but we’ve got to keep working hard, keep knuckling down and keep making the most of the opportunities.”
Regan Bayliss is keen to keep making the most of the opportunities presented to him
The NSW riding ranks are as strong as any with the likes of James McDonald, Hugh Bowman, Kerrin McEvoy and so on, but Bayliss said having to compete with jockeys of that calibre wasn’t something he was concerned about.
“It didn’t really come to my mind,” he said. “Melbourne and Sydney are both very strong riding ranks but obviously I believe in my ability so it never really crossed my mind.
“Melbourne and Sydney are both very strong riding ranks but obviously I believe in my ability so it never really crossed my mind." - Regan Bayliss
“I was just focusing on getting here and working as hard as I can and getting that work rate at a very high level, and that would lead to opportunities and then being able to capitalise on opportunities which is what’s happened so far.”
Going forward, Bayliss is excited for what lies ahead for his time in Sydney and believes Cummings is building up a strong team of horses that he is looking forward to being able to ride on race day.
“Anthony has got 90 horses on the books and I think he’s got about 40 to 45 2-year-olds this season so although he’s a stable that’s been around for a while, I think he’s still reaching where we can reach and we’ve got some lovely 2-year-olds and nice horses,” he said.
“Anthony trains for a lot of great clients and a lot of big owners so it’s exciting to be a part of his team and I think there’s going to be a big couple of years to come.”
