Apprentice jockey Dylan Dean rode his first winner as a professional jockey at the Bairnsdale Racing Club meeting last week, but it certainly wasn’t his first success in the region.
Dean rode 72 winners on the picnic circuit, including three at Swifts Creek on April 20 and two at Hinnomunjie on April 8, including the cup on Anything But for Reg Manning, before deciding to give the professional ranks a crack.
It was Dean’s sixth day at the races as a professional rider, breaking through during his ninth ride.
He made the trip from his Cranbourne base where he is apprentice to Wendy Kelly. He had four rides, including three among the primary chances, but it was his fourth ride on $100 outsider, Miss Darkside, that broke the duck.
The 19-start maiden was friendless in the 2200-metre race but travelled well during the run and was too strong for her opposition down the middle of the track, winning comfortably, much to the delight of popular Traralgon-based trainer, Troy Kilgower.
But it’s doubtful he was as happy as the 28-year-old Dean.
“I’d just like to thank Troy (Kilgower) for giving me the opportunity today, I had the relationship with him through the picnics, it’s just such a big thrill to ride my first professional winner,” Dean said.
As a teenager Dean would ride whenever and wherever.
He began riding quarter horses at places such as Birchip and Merton and even rode in Arabian horse races before taking steps to apply for his picnic jockey licence in 2017.
Having battled his weight and at times his focus, Dean knew his time was running out to make the grade, so he was pleased when he got the call to confirm his induction in the Racing Victoria’s Apprenticeship Program late last year.
Dean will be following in the footsteps of the likes of Clayton Douglas, Billy Egan, Caitlin Jones and Sophie Logan, who have progressed from Victoria’s picnic circuit.
