Maloney in line for bumper day on home track

Maloney has forged an outstanding association with the gifted David Vandyke-trained 3-year-old, having ridden him five times for four wins and a close second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

They will start short-priced favourites at the weekend and Maloney will make the four-hour round trip from his home on Tuesday morning to partner Alligator Blood in his final work at the Sunshine Coast.

“The time in the car is no worries at all and I can’t wait for Saturday. He keeps stepping up to the plate every time,” Maloney said.

“He’s got the X-factor and he’s very versatile too. He’s very push button and that makes my job a lot easier.

“A lot of the good horses, especially the really good ones and I’ve been lucky enough to ride a few of them, have all got the same sort of good temperaments. They’re very business-like and just get on with the job.”

One of the best Maloney has been aboard is Nature Strip (Nicconi), having won three races on the speedster when he was a 3-year-old.

Originally from Colac in Victoria, Maloney isn’t from a racing family and it wasn’t until his teenage years that he was encouraged to consider a career in the saddle.

“I never rode a horse until I was 16. When I was playing footy my coach owned horses, and his father-in-law raced the Group 1 winner Sound Action, and he kept telling me I should be a jockey,” he said.

“I said no, I thought I was allergic to horses. Every time I had patted one I seemed to start sneezing. My best mate’s parents were doing trotters and they kept telling me the same thing - I was the perfect size and thoroughbreds were really clean animals.

“A local trainer, Mal Carson, was leasing boxes off them and I went along and he taught me to ride. I did my apprenticeship with Mark Young and then I went to Robert Smerdon.”

After joining the senior ranks, Maloney enjoyed success with Toby Edmonds when the Gold Coast trainer had runners in Victoria and most notably with Eptimum (Snitzel) in the G3 Red Anchor S. at Moonee Valley.

Queensland call

It was with the urging from Edmonds, who now trains with his son Trent, a little over a year ago that Maloney made the move to Queensland.

“I was lucky enough to have Toby behind me straight away. I got a bit of a roll on and a few other trainers like David (Vandyke) started to put me on and luckily it’s just kept snowballing,” Maloney said.

“I was fortunate to walk into such a good barn, which made it a lot easier. I was riding for Robert Smerdon and when he got rubbed out Toby offered me a job up here. I had nothing to lose so I took it and haven’t looked back since.”

Maloney is riding in top form ahead of his date with Alligator Blood, having guided the Edmonds-trained Queen Kay (Zoustar) to a smart debut victory in the Aquis Gold Pearl on the first day of the Gold Coast meeting.

Pleasant surprise

While he had partnered the filly in two winning trial outings, he was a little taken aback by her performance last Saturday.

“I was a little bit surprised to be honest. I knew she had above average ability, but it was a great win to beat a horse that had already had a start,” Maloney said.

“Race smarts go a long way with 2-year-olds. I thought she’d run well, but certainly didn’t think she would win like she did. It was a pleasant surprise, that’s for sure.”

Maloney’s association with the Edmonds stable will also move offshore on Saturday week when the jockey makes his first trip to New Zealand to ride last-start G1 Railway S. runner-up Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) in the G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham.

“She ran super in the Railway and she’s got to be a live chance again,” he said. “I’ve never been there before so I’ll go over on the Thursday before the race and have a look around and probably head home on the Sunday. I’m looking forward to that.”

Maloney knows Winter Bride well, having won the G3 How Now S. and the G3 Northwood Plume S. on the Segenhoe Stud-raced mare last season.