The indefatigable Andrew Gibbons was about to leave a Coffs Harbour hotel bound for Grafton when I got him on the phone on Sunday morning. His three rides at the South Grafton Cup meeting were all at lengthy odds, but true to his lifetime commitment to reliability he had no intention of letting anybody down.
It wasn’t as though it had been an easy week for the forty six year old. He was at Muswellbrook on Thursday where his five rides yielded two winners, while four mounts at Scone on Friday produced two placings. Andrew’s recent run of form generated seven rides at Newcastle on Saturday, bringing another winning double and a second placing. Rather than attempt a ten hour round trip to Grafton the jockey wisely elected to break up the journey by staying at Coffs Harbour on Saturday night. For the record Andrew’s three Grafton rides all finished just behind the placegetters after which he aimed up for a five hour haul back to his home base at Newcastle. He’s one of many NSW riders nowadays who spend more time in the driver’s seat than they do in the saddle.
Codetta, the first of Andrew’s two Newcastle winners attracted plenty of interest when she stepped out for a two year old event, principally because she’s a half sister to this season’s dual Derby winner Riff Rocket. Like Riff Rocket, Codetta was bred and is raced by Debbie Kepitis and her Woppitt Bloodstock operation. Michael Freedman has the pleasure of training this daughter of Nicconi. She made her debut at Newcastle on June 22nd and started at long odds following two very average barrier trial performances at Randwick. Andrew Gibbons had the ride and was more than impressed with her fast closing fourth in the 900m scamper. “I had to check when an opening closed in front of me at the top of the straight,” said Andrew. “She lengthened really well when I got to the outside and was going better than anything right on the line. I was very pleased to retain the ride on Saturday.”
From the inside gate Codetta was quickly into the box seat and travelled keenly in third place behind Slam Dunk and November Air to the hometurn, perhaps a little too keenly. The filly showed good race sense and plenty of aggression as Gibbons moved out to shoulder Cash And Cards out of the way on straightening up. The pair came away to fight it out, with Codetta gamely clinging to a narrow lead. There was a lot to like about the filly’s win, while Cash On Cards also looked like a near future winner.
Codetta, Riff Rocket's half sister, wins her maiden at Newcastle on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The very next race was the second division of the maiden two year old, and this time Andrew donned the Coolmore colours to ride first starter Lutetia for Kris Lees. The filly is by Justify from the Fastnet Rock mare Peaceful Sea, a tried and tested cross which has produced several winners including Magic Millions victor Storm Boy.
Gibbons opted to go forward when trapped wide early and was able to find an easy lead. Despite being worried by the long priced Tampa Bay in the run to the turn, Lutetia showed a sparkling turn of foot to dash well clear on straightening. Dark Gleam was the only one to give chase, and actually took a little ground off the leader without posing a serious threat. Punters got it right, with Lutetia and Dark Gleam starting equal favourites.
Lutetia in the Coolmore colours scores impressively at Newcastle to give Andrew Gibbons a double - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The Justify filly gave Andrew his thirteenth win in the last six weeks, including two doubles and a Taree treble on June 9th. “I can’t tell you what a kick along this winning streak has given me,” said the veteran of thirty years of race riding. “I couldn’t take a trick for the first half of the season and I was beginning to think I’d lost it. Most of my rides were at long odds. When I did ride a horse with any form you could bet something would go wrong. I’ve got to give a lot of the credit to my newly appointed manager Samantha Clenton who’s been working hard to get me on some handy horses. Sam has only recently started in the jockey management business, and at the moment I’m her only client. The way she’s going I’ll soon have company.”
Samantha made the tough decision to quit the saddle in 2021 following a spate of race falls which left her with complicated spinal issues. The immensely talented rider posted just short of 360 winners including a significant number in the city. One of her most devoted fans was Kris Lees whose loyal support helped to get her up and going after two injury enforced layoffs. During her riding days Sam was unwaveringly observant. She knew as much about opposing runners as she did about her own mounts. Her attention to detail and knowledge of form will prove valuable attributes as she pursues her new career in jockey management.
Samantha wins the listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone on her personal favourite Clearly Innocent 14/05/2016 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Andrew Gibbons was tipping a big future for his son Dylan well before the youngster had his first race ride in 2020. “Funny thing he didn’t show a great deal of interest early on and was actually sixteen before he even got on a horse,” said Andrew. “I started him off at a local pony club before progressing to open paddocks, where he and I would canter around together. When I felt his balance was right, we arranged an apprenticeship with Kris Lees. A couple of years later when Dylan was really taking off he was getting rides from Kris that I would have been on under normal circumstances. One day Kris told me I had nobody to blame but myself for bringing such a brilliant young rider into the stable.”
Dylan opted for a brief break from racing at the conclusion of the recent Brisbane winter carnival. The 22 year old has spent some time in Italy, the UK and Greece and is obviously champing at the bit to rejoin the powerful Sydney riding ranks. He’s currently coming to the end of his fourth season with a stunning 389 wins on the board including two Gr 1’s - a Sydney Cup on Explosive Jack and a Ranvet Stakes on Kalapour for his greatest supporter Kris Lees.
One of two Gr. 1 wins for Dylan Gibbons - this year's KIA Tancred Stakes on the Kris Lees trained Kalapour. More Felons was runner up - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Andrew and Dylan have been rivals many times in the last four years. The father and son duo put on quite a show for Sky viewers and on-course patrons when they staged a thrilling duel in the 2020 Lismore Cup. Dylan on Top Prospect headed Andrew’s mount Tavion Prince close to home, but the wily elder still had an ace up the sleeve. He all but threw Tavion Prince over the line to come again and win after looking beaten. “He’s ridden most of this season without a claim and knows how tough it’s going to be from this point on,” said his proud father. “As tall as he is, Dylan has his weight under control at all times. He realises he’ll get back what he puts in. I can guarantee there won’t be a harder working jockey in Sydney.”
Gibbons the elder has accumulated a pretty good reputation himself in a career embracing three decades and close to 1400 winners. One of his finest achievements came as recently as the 2019/2020 season when he topped the NSW premiership ladder with 124 wins, putting him in 5th spot on the Australian table. He’s ridden in many a stakes race, and a few Gr 1’s with victory twice slipping through his fingers at the elite level. The first was on the Kris Lees trained Hera in the 2015 Coolmore Classic when Andrew and Linda Meech on Plucky Belle both angled for the same opening at the 300m. Linda got there first and Hera was held up just long enough to lose crucial momentum finishing 5th only half a length from the winner Plucky Belle. To this day the jockey feels it may have been the one that got away.
Andrew’s second Gr 1 disappointment came in the 2023 Doncaster when he comfortably made 51.5 kgs to ride the Lees trained Nugget. “He was pretty well out of business when he drew barrier 19, but his run was sensational,” recalled the jockey. “All I could do was cuddle him back in the field and hope I could get in somewhere. He was never better than four deep and even wider on the turn. He felt enormous coming over the rise and still looked a big hope 100m out. He just peaked on his run to get third to Mr. Brightside and My Oberon. Nugget had my heart racing halfway down the straight.”
Andrew Gibbons couldn’t be in a better place right at the moment. His riding career is on a high while a certain baby girl is currently exerting enormous influence on her doting dad. Andrew and his wife Keeley are the proud parents of Hayley who’s closing in on her third birthday. “I’m delighted that Dylan and his younger brother Ryan are almost as besotted as I am,” says Andrew.
With Keeley’s help the respected jockey has better control of his weight than at any stage of his career. He’s eating more sensibly than ever and has greatly reduced his time in the sweat box. “I feel great at 54 kgs any day of the week and I don’t need too much notice to get well below that if required,” he said. “I know time’s running out, but I haven’t given up hope of grabbing one of those big handicap races before I call it quits. If somebody needs a strong rider at a featherweight in a Gr 1, I’ll be ready to go.”
Andrew Gibbons is one of the few natural lightweights still active in NSW - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - One of two winners for Andrew at Muswellbrook last week. In winning the BM66, Miss Cartel made it three on the trot - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)