Richie McHorse’s win in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Jake Bayliss’s New Zealand stint on April 14, 2018 might not have received as much press coverage as the young Australian jockey’s three Group 1 wins, but it was the one to crack the door open to another international milestone four years later.
The son of Redoute's Choice sure has a catchy name, but it was one half of the training partnership that Bayliss remembers more - Donna Logan.
Singapore racing fans with razor-sharp minds may straightaway think 'hang on, that can't be' as Logan was then into her first season at Kranji, and still waiting to open her account (it came two weeks later with Green Star)!
But back at Logan's old Ruakaka base, it was that floating period during which the transfer papers to her New Zealand training partner Chris Gibbs had not fully gone through yet.
Hence, Bayliss didn't even get to meet Logan that day, but it didn't matter. He sure knew who he'd have to link up with while he was at his Gold Coast home watching the Kranji racing action last year, and itching to be part of it.
"I rode a winner at my first ride for Donna in a Listed race at Hastings, on a horse named Richie McHorse. Even if I didn't meet her then as she was already in Singapore, she was the only trainer I knew of at Kranji," said the Queensland-born Bayliss, who claimed his first three Group 1 victories during his New Zealand stint - Volpe Veloce in the 2018 Railway Stakes, On The Rocks in the 2019 Herbie Dyke Stakes and Nicoletta in the 2019 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
"I reached out to her when I thought about applying for a Singapore licence. She showed me how to do it and we spoke almost every day.
"I'd be beyond grateful to her if I could pay her back with a few winners very soon."
Licensed for one year by the Singapore Turf Club, Bayliss, 27, whose last ride came at the Gold Coast on February 5, could only fly to Singapore on Friday after his employment pass was approved.
With no quarantine imposed given the VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane) agreement between Singapore and Australia, Bayliss has not wasted any time in getting the lie of the land.
Early bird catches the worm. The first bookings have not taken long to materialise, in the shape of four rides for this Saturday's meeting.
"I did my medical check-up and once that was cleared, I was able to ride trackwork this morning," said Bayliss after his last barrier trial on Stunning Cat.
"I rode around seven horses, including two (Super Posh and Stunning Cat) at the trials. Besides Donna, I also rode work for Jerome Tan, Tim Fitzsimmons and James Peters.
"I can say the Polytrack is the biggest synthetic track I've ever ridden on, but I can't wait to get on the grass as well.
"I also watched every race on TV on Sunday, paid close attention to everything, especially the very good jockeys I'll be riding against.
"I've got four rides for now, Gold Star, Boomba and Miracle for Tim, and one for Donna. I galloped Boomba this morning and it was a really nice piece of work.
"As Miracle is the second standby starter, Donna may put me on another horse, but four is a perfect number for a start as I don't want to push myself too much for a first day. Next week, hopefully, it'll be 10 rides!
"My fitness levels are good, though, as I had my last rides back home couple of weeks ago. If I keep riding a lot of trackwork, and with the weather, I can get down to 53kgs."
Bayliss would remember the heat and humidity the South-East Asian republic is known for as he did once stay here as a kid, but the lifestyle the 350-odd race winner and girlfriend Hollee Bohr have already experienced in the last five days more than made up for it.
"My dad Jamie was a track rider for Mr Michael Kent (ex-Kranji trainer) many years ago. I remember coming to the track when I was seven, loved it and it's since been a dream of mine to ride here one day," said Bayliss who hails from an Ipswich family steeped in racing with two grandfathers as former trainers and brother Regan a successful jockey in Sydney.
"This is my first time coming back here since, and obviously a lot has changed. I'm now staying at Donna's place until I find my own place, and she's already introduced me to the chicken rice stall near her house, and I just love it!
"My girlfriend Hollee's mum Jodie is a trainer in Albury and she has worked with horses all her life. She rode in trials back home.
"She's come with me and is now applying for a job at the Riding Centre. She'd be a good fit there as she's good with kids, but we'll see what happens."
