Race 7 at Coffs Harbour on Saturday was a long time coming for apprentice jockey Jayden Barrie as he got back in the saddle after an eight month hiatus from competitive racing.
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His return was what dreams are made of, winning on 10-year-old gelding Wewonya by .2 lengths at $26.
So when was Wewonya's last win?
Race 7 at Kempsey, December 16 2019.
The fact it was Race 7 makes the perfect match, considering the jockey riding Wewonya back in 2019 was, of course, Barrie.
"It was awesome, I loved the feeling and have missed racing," Barrie told the Argus.
In May 2020 he headed off to Coffs Harbour to receive further training but on return went in a different direction.
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"I was struggling to make weight while racing but [during the break] I just missed racing and had mental breakdowns," he said.
Trainer Hilary Dew was the man who Barrie was previously doing his apprenticeship with and was ultimately the man who brought him back.
"Hilary offered me the apprenticeship back around one and a half months ago and I took it up, prepared and had trials [before racing at Coffs Harbour]," he explained.
"He was pretty excited after Wewonya's win."
Barrie's next race will be on Red Intuition at Taree on Sunday.
The five-year-old gelding's last win was at Taree on January 29 after placing twice in his previous two races.
Also making the news:
Lachlan Harper
Lachlan Harper is a sports reporter at the Central Western Daily. Contact: lachlan.harper@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Lachlan Harper is a sports reporter at the Central Western Daily. Contact: lachlan.harper@austcommunitymedia.com.au
