3 minute read
Young jockey Quayde Krogh knows the euphoria of being airborne and it’s not confined to the racetrack through his first win at Royal Randwick and the prestige of landing the Bega and Snake Gully Cups.
The former Queenslander is thriving in a move to the ACT and has combined race riding with training to be a commercial pilot as he has three rides for his Jones and Joseph stable at Sunday's Nowra TAB meeting.
"I've logged over a 100 hours of flight training, brilliant experience and I've thought a commercial pilot is a career option from race riding," Quayde explained.
"I've got contacts with commercial airlines back home and I've actually flown part of the way to outback race meetings with a pilot.
"I haven't flown in a while because I'm concentrating on getting my career moving again in the ACT.
"It didn't work out for me in Sydney."
Quayde served his apprenticeship with Waterhouse and Bott and then moved to the ACT with his fiancé Venessa to be stable rider for Joseph and Jones. And also ride freelance.
Quayde rode stable mare Room Number early year to win at $80 at Randwick, she also won the Bega Cup and Krogh won the Snake Gully Cup on Super Helpful.
"Huge period, Room Number was the most satisfying because she wasn't firing, I formed a bond with her and got her back to her best.
"She's retired now with injury. But we love it down here, I'm getting far more opportunities, riding my share of winners.
"And we don't mind the colder weather, I'm a keen skier and snowboarder in the Snowies."
And Quayde's three value rides Nowra?
"They're getting rain so the query is how much by raceday, but without knowing how the track will play I think I've got competitive rides.
"Cider Bite is race fit coming off a recent win at Nowra, he'll get across and be on pace-important there."
Cider Bite contests the third event, debut runner Peak Contributor the second race maiden and Sir Finn the fourth event.
"Sir Finn didn't come up last prep but he's trialled OK, nice feel; four-race winner and importantly twice on heavy tracks when fresh.
"Peak Contributor will get back on his trials and is still learning but shown ability."
Nowra at present is a Soft 6 and it is raining.
