A flurry of winners on provincial and country tracks in recent months has more than justified Christian Reith’s decision to carve a niche for himself outside the metropolitan area. Christian is one of several talented riders who actually live in Sydney, but choose to avail themselves of a strong provincial and country circuit within reasonable driving range.
“Thanks to the efforts of my manager Shaun Flaherty, I’ve been able to build a strong clientele from Taree to Goulburn,” says the former Queenslander. “If a nice ride happens to come up in town I give Shaun plenty of notice and he makes it work for me.”
A last minute change of plans led Christian to a thrilling Group 1 win almost two years ago. He was in strong demand on the provincial circuit and Shaun had committed him to several rides at a Gosford Saturday meeting. The jockey was stunned when Ron Quinton called on the Thursday to offer him the ride on Dixie Blossoms in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. He’d had five previous rides on the mare for a win in the Gr 2 Guy Walter and two placings in stakes races. He knew she’d be competitive with the right run.
It’s now history that Christian gave Dixie Blossoms a “gun” ride to beat El Dorado Dreaming and Princess Posh. He also got to ride the bonny mare at her final two starts for a close up 6th in the Doncaster and a half neck second to Kenedna in the Gr 1 Queen Of The Turf. Thanks to Shaun Flaherty’s communication skills, the trainers for whom he would have ridden at Gosford were delighted to see him win the all important Coolmore Classic.
Christian wins the Gr 1 2019 Coolmore Classic on Dixie Blossoms - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The jockey’s judgement was again vindicated six months later when his brother-in-law Brad Widdup offered him the ride on Akari in the listed Reginald Allen at Randwick. Once again Shaun Flaherty had the job of appeasing trainers who’d asked for Christian’s services at the Newcastle meeting. A perfect ride got Akari home in the stakes race, and Christian happily resumed his out of town role.
Winning trebles on consecutive Saturdays at Newcastle have stamped Reith as one of the current form riders away from the city. On January 30th he won on Miss Kono for Rod Ollerton, Vucetich for James Cummings and Prompt Prodigy for Edward Cummings. He was disappointed when heavy rain forced the abandonment of the last four races because he felt his best ride of the day was Flexible in the last. He was an interested spectator four days later when Flexible bolted in on the Kenso track with Rachel King in the saddle.
Last Saturday he stole the honours with another treble at Newcastle - Bastaki for James Cummings, Dreaming Of Gold for Nathan Doyle and Iolanthe for James Cummings. Again heavy rain wiped out the final race in which his mount Constanzia was solid in the market. “The Newcastle track recently underwent renovation work and just needs a few dry weeks to return to its former condition,” said Christian. “The rain created a fair bit of kick back on the last two Saturdays and plenty of mud was coming with it. It was hampering the vision of jockeys. It will soon be back to its best.”
Christian wins on Bastaki, one of 3 winners at Newcastle on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Christian Reith’s fascination with racing developed slowly. He was first drawn to the colour and excitement when he watched a Melbourne Cup telecast with his mother. By the time he went to the Cavendish Rd Public School in Brisbane his racing interest had been supplanted by a passion for Rugby League, but his small stature dispelled any aspirations of becoming a Bronco.
Another of his interests is not so well documented. He found himself drawn to the arts and felt very much at home with palette, brush and easel. From all reports his teachers recognized a hint of talent.
Young Reith was in his early teens when jockey turned stipendiary steward Graham Ireland arranged for him to complete work experience with Brisbane trainer Fred Thomas. The youngster fell in love with stable life and was instantly hooked on the thoroughbred.
His first race ride was on Azamor Princess on the Gold Coast on August 13th 1994. He had to be content with second placing but those in the know were impressed. Azamor Princess was a notoriously intractable filly who seemed to be on her best behaviour when Christian was in the saddle.
Christian in the Patinack Farm colours after a win on Nechita at Warwick Farm - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Just a few days later his magical first winner materialised when he led all the way to win on the Terry Hoare trained Sir Ive at Beaudesert. A full year went by before young Reith posted his first metropolitan win. Fittingly it was Tanrosa’s Boy at Doomben for his master and great supporter Fred Thomas.
Christian was barely past mid teens when he first realised his mental health wasn’t as it should have been. Specialists linked his unmistakable depression to a nasty race fall he’d had in the Caloundra Guineas not long before. He and Brian York had both crashed heavily in the closing stages of the race. He thought he’d escaped serious injury but shortly afterwards collapsed in the jockey’s room. He was taken to hospital where Doctors diagnosed a very heavy concussion.
In the aftermath of the accident Christian developed a liking for a social drink. It started out harmlessly enough with friends, but quickly spiralled out of control. At the same time he lost the desire to interact with people. He didn’t want to get out of bed in the early hours, and before long was starting to let people down by being constantly absent from trackwork.
When the offer of a short term contract in Macau presented itself, Christian seized the opportunity with both hands in the hope a complete change of environment might have some therapeutic benefit.
His problems were exacerbated when a new and more formidable demon came into his life. Alcohol and cocaine proved to be a lethal cocktail and it took every ounce of his resolve to honour trackwork and race day commitments.
There are few better examples of the power of natural talent than Christian Reith’s three month stint in Macau in 2003. Despite his poor mental state he was able to post 47 wins in twelve weeks, largely due to the support of expatriate Queensland trainer Barry Baldwin. It’s safe to say most spectators and punters were unaware of the emotional upheaval he was dealing with.
Christian was still in a bad way when he accepted an offer from Graeme Rogerson to become one of his stable jockeys at Randwick. The Kiwi trainer had built a very large team in Sydney and was rewarding hard working jockeys with race day opportunities. That natural talent again came to the surface. Reith rode several winners for Rogerson including two at Randwick on the handy gelding Stadium - one of those wins was the Gr 3 Summer Cup.
It’s doubtful that Greg Hickman was aware of Christian’s personal troubles when he legged him onto the talented Sportsman in the Gr 2 Expressway Stakes in February 2004. The ride was a gem and Sportsman defeated two smart horses in Thorn Park and Excellerator.
Christian had a good grip on the jockey's trophy after winning the 2013 Spring Champion Stakes for Darley on Complacent - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
It all came to a head when the seriously unwell jockey suffered a complete nervous collapse towards the end of 2004. His devoted wife Bettina who’d supported him unwaveringly through the dark days, took charge of his medical regime. She guided him through the inevitable detox sessions and a testing rehabilitation period of three months.
Bettina and her much improved husband headed back to their native Queensland where Christian decided to take an indefinite break from racing. He hoped his desire to ride again would return. If it didn’t, he’d look for another direction in life. “A few Saturday afternoons watching the Sky Racing coverage, and I knew I wanted to be out there again,” said Christian. “I plucked up the courage to present myself unheralded at Eagle Farm trackwork where trainers like Kelly Schweida and Rob Heathcote went out of their way to get me up and going. I’ll be forever grateful to both.”
A rejuvenated Christian Reith returned to Sydney racing midway through the 2009/2010 season. He rode the lion’s share of trackwork and committed himself to faraway meetings when required. By season’s end he’d ridden 44 winners, a mere precursor to what he’d achieve the following season. In the 2010/2011 racing year he booted home 120 winners, which included 40 in the metropolitan area. At the time Christian credited the support of Tim Martin, John O’Shea, Joe Pride, Paul Messara, Paul Perry and Peter Snowden for making it all possible.
Since August 1st 2011 another 712 NSW winners have come Christian’s way for a wide array of trainers. Interwoven into that impressive tally are four coveted Gr 1’s including the aforementioned 2019 Coolmore Classic on Dixie Blossoms. The first of Reith’s magical quartet was the 2012 Coolmore Stud Stakes on the brilliant Nechita - the horse he rates the best he’s ever ridden.
One of Christian's 3 wins on Nechita - the horse he rates the best he's ever ridden - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Nechita had only four race starts before being purchased by Coolmore at the Patinack Farm dispersal. Christian rode the Fastnet Rock mare in all four starts for wins in a Warwick Farm 2YO, the Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes and the Coolmore Stud Stakes in which she showed blazing speed to beat Jolie Bay and Shamexpress. “Her only failure was in the Golden Rose in which she simply didn’t run 1400m,” said the jockey. “She was a pure sprinter and it’s hard to believe she’s now the dam of Harpo Marx who’s racing so well in Sydney over longer trips.”
Christian’s second Group 1 winner came at the expense of Kerrin McEvoy who was under suspension. “It was a big thrill when Peter Snowden put me on Complacent to win the Spring Champion Stakes in the famous Darley colours,” recalled the jockey.
Kris Lees is yet another top trainer to have utilised the talents of Christian Reith in recent years. It was Kris who gave him the prized ride on Le Romain in the 2016 Gr 1 Randwick Guineas, and got the right result. Christian didn’t panic when caught three wide with cover, but concentrated on keeping $1.30 favourite Press Statement in a firm pocket. Le Romain grabbed a handy break at the 100m and held off the fast finishing Press Statement to give the former Queensland jockey his third win at the elite level.
Christian was seen at his best in winning the Randwick Guineas on Le Romain. Press Statement was the runner-up - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Christian has always been totally honest about the challenges he’s faced in the hope his story might help other young people in similar situations. He’s grateful for the second chance he was given by the industry he loves. The apple of his eye is fifteen year old daughter Scarlett who takes a casual interest in her father’s racetrack deeds. “Scarlett’s main interest is the art of dance,” says Christian. “She’s been under instruction from an early age and shows plenty of talent in tap, jazz, ballet and contemporary dance. I make sure I’m in the audience whenever she performs at concerts or eisteddfods.”
There are few busier jockeys around at the moment than Christian Reith. He’d hardly had time to reflect on his Newcastle treble before it was time to get on the road to Goulburn where he had two rides - one of them Roam Free was beaten narrowly. Twenty four hours later he was at Muswellbrook where four rides resulted in one win and two seconds. Tuesday saw him at Hawkesbury for three rides, two of which were unplaced while the other Duais finished second.
With more than 1500 career winners including four Group 1’s and dozens of stakes races, Christian has a CV most jockeys would love to own. With his weight in check and his focus sharp, that CV can only get better. Mind you he’ll need to be riding plenty of winners to cover the fuel bills.
Christian snares his second Gr 1 - the 2013 Spring Champion Stakes on Complacent in the Darley colours - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - A vigorous Christian Reith gets Le Romain home in the 2016 Gr.1 Randwick Guineas - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)