You might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks but the ones he knows can still be pretty impressive.
Jason Holder is far from an old dog but he knows he’s in the twilight of his riding career.
At 50, Holder is closer to the end than the start but on recent form, you’d hardly know it.
The three-time John Letts Medal winner is Adelaide’s leading jockey this season with 21 metropolitan wins. His strike rate of 24% dwarfs his rivals and is arguably his best ever start to a season.
On Saturday, he’ll make a rare trip across the border and attempt to continue the renaissance in several feature races at Cranbourne.
Holder’s CV doesn’t want for much but a headline Stakes win during the spring would be something coveted and something he’s still hungry to chase.
“I’m very competitive, so I love that and to be honest, I just love the game,” Holder said.
“The fire is very much still in me and I’ve started off this season in good form, which helps keeps me motivated.”
“I’ve probably changed up a couple of things with my riding, including my weight and I’m now riding a little bit heavier than I used to.”
“I think I’ve become better at focusing on the process and not the result.”
“And the bottom line is that I’m enjoying it as much as I ever have.”
Holder’s association with Morphettville horseman Andrew Gluyas is what has attracted him to Cranbourne.
He will ride Air Assault in the $500,000 Cranbourne Cup and Watchme Win in the $1 million slot race The Meteorite. He will also combine with Gluyas’ Morphettville neighbour Stuart Gower aboard Darknconfidential in The Lester.
Holder’s partnership with Air Assault is every jockey’s dream – they have combined 22 times for seven Stakes wins.
The son of American Pharoah has won the Gawler Cup and the John Letts Cup at his two most recent starts and Holder believes that, as a five-year-old, he is racing better than ever.
“Air Assault is in a purple patch of form,” he said.
“He’s coming together at the right time and I think the stable have nailed everything with him this spring – the timing, the placement and I think he’s going to be very competitive in the race.
“This is his time to shine.”
Like Holder, Air Assault has consistently performed on the big stage in Adelaide, with Stakes wins at two, three, four and now five.
But what he’s done this campaign is add a new dimension to his racing by being able to take a sit in his races.
“All throughout his career, the owners have wanted me to try to take a sit on the horse but he jumps so well, puts himself there and, as a big, strong horse, I don’t like fighting him,” he said.
“When he got back in the Gawler Cup, he was just beaten for speed early but it worked out perfectly because he started to get warm at the 600m and he was doing his best work late.”
“It was similar the other day (in the John Letts Cup) when he was able to respond coming off the leader’s back.”
“He’s definitely a more versatile, mature horse this preparation.”
Air Assault is the $5 second favourite with Bet 365 in the Cranbourne Cup, while Watchme Win is rated $13 in The Meteorite.
