Jordan Childs’ spring prospects are looking up, with the talented jockey booked for several key Group 1 rides in the coming weeks.
Childs has built momentum at the right time with two G2 wins in as many weeks and now has several genuine chances to add to his G1 tally, which currently sits at one thanks to Written By’s 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Two decades after his champion father won the second of his Caulfield Cups on Railings, Childs will ride Kris Lees’ Adelaide River in the $5 million handicap, with Mick Dee heading to Sydney to ride in The Everest.
The imported stayer, who is rated $17 with Bet365, finished seventh in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes after leading until the 300m then being tightened inside the final 100m.
While he has never raced over 2400m in Australia, the son of Australia is a G3 winner over that distance in Ireland and has twice been placed at G1 level.
“I got confirmed on Adelaide River on the Caulfield Cup yesterday which is exciting,” Childs said.
“Mick Dee rode him on Saturday but he’s going up to Sydney to ride Magic Time in The Everest so I’ve been able to get an opportunity which can happen at this time of year with the clash of these big races.”
“He’s got 54kg and I’ve ridden that weight a few times this season so I’m confident I will be able to do it comfortably.”
“He’s a good ride in a Caulfield Cup, especially coming out of that Turnbull. He probably should’ve run fourth but he just ran out of a bit of room late, Antino got in on top of him.”
With Mark Zahra opting to ride Vinrock, Childs has also picked up the ride on the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained Planet Red in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas.
The progressive three-year-old hit the line well at the end of the G3 Guineas Prelude and, in an open edition of the three-year-old classic, he’s rated $15 with Bet365.
“He’s drawn a perfect gate and he should be able to put himself just behind them,” he said.
“I galloped him this morning and he seems to be going really well.”
Childs will reunite with Niance in the G2 Schillaci Stakes this Saturday, while King Zephyr will attempt to continue his rise through the ranks in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes.
As well as Adelaide River in the Cup, the 29-year-old has been booked to ride last-start G2 placegetter Just a Journey in the G1 Thousand Guineas and VRC Derby prospect Miewa in the Caulfield Classic on Saturday week.
“The next couple of weeks are looking good,” he said.
“It’s hard enough getting rides in these races, let alone getting on horses that have a chance so hopefully I can make the most of some nice opportunities.”
“This year I felt like I had the best bunch of horses going into spring, especially with the number of horses that were going to go to decent races.”
“That’s probably showing so far and hopefully it can continue.”
