In form apprentice Brock Ryan left Kembla Grange on Saturday content with his winning double, but knew in his heart it should have been three. He’d ridden copybook races to win on Signora Nera NZ and Madam Legend, while the “barrier 1 syndrome” cost Oxford Tycoon certain victory in the ninth running of the Midway Hcp.
Oxford Tycoon was still in reverse gear at the 100m trying to get across the heels of the leaders, but absolutely hurtled home when clear to fail by a thumb nail. “Funny how the inside barrier can sometimes bring you undone,” said Brock. “He was cantering halfway down the straight and would have won by a decent margin with a clear run.”
The young jockey has been on a “high” since July 24th when he posted a milestone four win haul at a Rosehill Saturday meeting. Wins on Cuban Royale, No Compromise, Chat and So Say You gave him a result rarely achieved by apprentices. Significantly all four winners were from different stables.
One of Brock's four winners at Rosehill 24/07/2021. Chat narrowly defeats All Time Legend - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
There are few young jockeys in the nation more deserving of ongoing success than the Wollongong born twenty seven year old. Multiple injuries have robbed him of many months in the saddle. Some of those injuries were of a very serious nature and a couple of them at a frustratingly inopportune time. On each occasion he did his best to keep it all together, as he patiently waited for the green light from doctors.
It’s not generally known that Brock was born in Wollongong, but at age twelve moved with his family to the popular tourist town of Yamba in northern NSW. Here his love of surfing developed rapidly, precipitated no doubt by the genetic influence of his mother Sandie who reached a very high level in the sport. By late teens Brock was working in a Yamba caravan park, a job which embraced a traineeship in holiday parks and resorts management. Something told him he needed to look for new horizons, but he had no idea what his new focus should be.
He stumbled upon horse racing during regular gatherings with mates at one of Yamba’s numerous hospitality venues. With live thoroughbred action pouring in on the Sky Racing screens from tracks all over Australia, he found himself drawn to the colour and spectacle. He was very taken by the obvious skills of the jockeys. His small stature and the stability of his body weight soon triggered some unexpected thoughts.
As his interest grew, he arranged for a family friend to take him to the busy Grafton racing precinct where he spent a morning watching track gallops and chatting with local trainers including John Shelton. By the time he left the Grafton racecourse thoughts of pursuing an apprenticeship were pounding in his brain.
Five years after discovering horse racing on Sky Channel he was riding winners like Monegal at Kembla 21/11/2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
One of Brock’s uncles had ownership shares in horses with Wagga trainer Gary Colvin who suggested the youngster should consider making enquiries at a place like Kembla Grange which boasted a large horse population. The idea of returning to his native Wollongong appealed to the adventurous twenty year old, and so did the security and comfort of moving in with his grandparents.
Brock was fortunate to gain a start with Paul Murray in early 2016. While learning about horse and stable management he was offered the use of a retired racehorse by neighbouring trainer Donna Grisdale.
“With plenty of tuition from locals I got on Donna’s mare in the sand roll every day and taught myself the basics,” recalled Brock. “She could pig root without warning, and got rid of me several times. Finally I progressed to taking her out onto the track where she’d bolt with me two or three times a week. It took me a long time to get the hang of it all.”
The occasion of Brock Ryan’s very first barrier trial was a bittersweet experience. He strapped some Paul Murray runners at a Wagga meeting and was offered a trial ride by trainer Scott Spackman after the final race. “I thought I was Damien Oliver when I won the trial but the stewards soon brought me back to earth,” said Brock. “They refused to endorse my permit because I’d shifted ground and caused some trouble in the field. I was shattered.”
That disappointment paled into insignificance the following morning when the first of his well documented accidents occurred at a Kembla trackwork session. He was heading back to the stables on Life Of Reilly when he could see a collision was imminent with a bolting horse. His mount “spooked” and charged into a fence dislodging Brock heavily. In his panic Life Of Reilly fell on top of the hapless jockey, who sustained a badly broken pelvis. It was a long and tedious five months before he was back in the saddle.
Brock made his race debut on November 3rd 2015 finishing second of four runners on Regal Rush at a Sapphire Coast meeting. Just a couple of weeks later he won his first race on Casanova at Adaminaby for trainer Bruce Stewart. He has fond memories of a win on Jungle Edge at the Sapphire Coast in January 2016. He claimed 4kgs on the emerging stakes winner who was then trained by Michelle Strickland.
The horse later went to Mick Bell in Victoria destined to win six races at stakes level and place in a handful of Gr 1 races.
Brock claimed 4kgs when he won this one at a Sapphire Coast meeting in 2016. It's Jungle Edge who went on to win 8 stakes races - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
For many months trainer Gwenda Marwell had been casually suggesting Brock should join her rapidly expanding stable. With Paul Murray’s blessing, Brock transferred to Gwenda who gave him many opportunities. If worthwhile offers were forthcoming at country meetings Gwenda was happy to let him travel, but there was one bush meeting he’d rather forget. “It was Wellington Boot day 2017 and I had a horse called Masked Model come down with me after passing the post,” said Brock. “I finished in Dubbo Hospital where they diagnosed a badly broken shoulder and I was out of action again.”
On resuming duties at the Markwell stable he picked up where he’d left off, and the winners were quickly flowing again. Lady luck however thought it was time to throw another spanner in the works. Brock was unseated when one of the Markwell team decided to slip over during a track gallop, and the young jockey found himself with a broken ankle to contend with. His resolve was sorely tested during yet another period of rehabilitation.
So far the young jockey had stepped over every hurdle put in front of him, but the next abrupt halt to his career was right out of left field. He was suddenly conscious of groin discomfort which was diagnosed as tendonitis. The pain interfered with his ability to “squat” - the very last thing a jockey needs. Another eight weeks of inaction almost drove him to despair.
It was decided some time after his return to race riding, that a loan out to a prominent Sydney stable would be very much in his interests. So began a three months association with top trainer John O’Shea at Randwick. Sadly a plan devised in all good faith came unstuck. “I was very unsettled in the big city, and I think a delayed reaction to my many injuries came into the equation,” said Ryan. “I lost my driver’s licence when I failed the breathalyser and all in all I was in a bad space. John and I decided to end our association two weeks early. It’s one of those things I’d like another crack at.”
Brock fled the whole Sydney racing scene, which at the time was probably the best thing he could have done. He teamed up with younger brother Cade, got some quick surfing practice under his belt and bolted to Bali for a complete break. He may not have realised it at the time, but the racing bug had bitten him completely.
Three months later, and after due consultation with Racing NSW Brock’s indentures were transferred to Robert and Luke Price at Kembla - an association he values highly. It took only a handful of winners for discerning Sydney trainers to acknowledge the jockey’s talents. Team Hawkes warmed to his riding and Brock was able to repay the faith with a win on Reflectivity at Rosehill in December 2018.
A harmonious relationship with the Hawkes stable led him to a win on Kapajack - a horse he regards as one of the best he’s ever been on. “I had only two rides on him for a Rosehill win in June 2019,” said the jockey. “He had only eight starts before going amiss. I believe he had a really decent race in him.”
Brock wins on Kapajack for Team Hawkes at Rosehill June 2019 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Carluca, a nine year old veteran of 64 starts was the horse to provide Brock with another accident, another serious injury and another long layoff. The gelding clipped heels and fell in the home straight at Canterbury leaving his jockey with concussion and a dislocation and fracture of the left elbow. Somehow the young horseman coped with yet another kick in the guts.
Brock has ridden the Price trained Jamaea on three occasions for a maiden win at Kembla, a close second in the Lonhro Plate at Randwick and a sixth in the Gr 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes. He was looking forward immensely to partnering the filly in the Gr 3 Magic Night Stakes, with an assurance that he’d retain the Slipper ride should she make the field.
There were gasps of disbelief on the Tuesday morning before the Magic Night when a member of the Price team whipped around with Brock and then tumbled over backwards on top of the luckless jockey. Robert Price said he and son Luke were devastated when they realised their apprentice had suffered another serious injury. Brock was rushed to Wollongong Hospital where doctors diagnosed a fractured tibia and ankle complications. Few jockeys have ever experienced such a horror run of injuries. Few jockeys have handled the aftermath better than Brock Ryan.
One of Brock's 3 race rides on the promising Jamaea - a 2yo win at Kembla - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The jockey is the first to admit his weight stability has been a massive comfort during his many long periods of inactivity. “My weight has varied little during the long absences which has helped my sanity no end,” he said. “I can’t imagine the nightmare of being injured and watching the needle creep up every time you look at the scales.”
Brock can be classed as a genuine lightweight in an era when jockeys are taller and heavier than those of previous generations. He’s hoping his ability to ride at a featherweight might promote rides in some of the feature handicap races during the spring carnival. When asked if 53kgs would present any problems, he quickly responded that he’d do it easily in a small saddle.
Brock greatly values the friendship and guidance of former jockey Luke Price who rode 110 winners before impossible weight problems terminated his career in the early 2000’s. “Luke still rides a huge amount of trackwork and is often alongside me in track gallops,” says Ryan. “He takes a keen interest in all of my race rides and provides me with excellent tuition. It’s a great pleasure to work with Luke and Robert Price.”
Brock lives quietly in Wollongong with his partner jockey Madison Waters, who’s also apprenticed to Robert and Luke Price. Madison has ridden more than twenty winners and is focused on adding to those figures going forward. She obviously played an important part in counselling Brock through those recent bad patches.
Family and friends never cease to be amazed by Brock Ryan’s resilience. Through every low point he’s climbed off the canvas and bounced back better than ever. You’ve only got to study replays of his many recent winners to realise that his talents are unimpaired. With that juicy 2KG city claim listed beside his name, it wouldn’t surprise if he bags another quartet of wins on a metropolitan programme in the very near future.
Brock looked the part as he coaxed Monegal to a narrow win at Kembla 21/11/2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - The second leg of Brock's double at Kembla - Promising mare Madam Legend wins the BM88 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)