A year ago apprentice Dylan Gibbons was the talk of Newcastle as he stepped onto the big stage for the first time at The Hunter meeting and rode away with a Group win, confirming his standing as jockey of the future.
It was a day the 21-year-old won't forget as he claimed the Group 3 Spring Stakes on Festival Dancer, a precursor to his move to full-time city racing and the current lead in the Sydney Apprentices Premiership.
As he prepares to mark that anniversary at Newcastle on Saturday, Gibbons said while he tried to treat the day as any other meeting it confirmed to him, as much as to everyone else, that he belongs there.
"It was a nice big stage set up, a Group race taking on the big boys and it allowed me to show people I can match motors with them,'' he said.
"I just went out there and did my thing and was fortunate enough to jag a big winner."
Our Candidate is Gibbons' chance for another 'feature race' win when he partners the Kris Lees-trained stayer in the $300,000 NZB Insurance The Beauford (2300m), where he was $13 with TAB on Thursday.
From five rides on the eight-year-old he's managed three third placings including last week's minor cheque behind Pale King in a slowly run race at Rosehill Gardens.
The Cessnock Cup winner from two starts back drops 5kg on that placing and Gibbons said the slight distance drop is probably the key.
"He's been knocking on the door, I haven't been fortunate enough to get that winner yet,'' he said.
"He's been ultra consistent and when Kris dropped him in grade he was able to get a win which was warranted and back up in grade up to 2400m the other day he was right there.
"He presented like he was going to dash and be the winner but I think up to 2400m it took away that bit of brilliance.
"This time over 2300m I won't be riding him so much to be able to dash with them and it looks a nice race for him for a good bit of coin."
Honest mare Never Talk was going to be Gibbons' ride in the $1 million The Hunter but she didn't make the final cut and they'll tackle the Karaka 2023 Handicap (1300m) instead.
Gibbons rode her into a third behind Brigantine at Randwick in September, she was then runner-up in the Group 3 Nivison before a close fifth in the $2m The Invitation and he's not concerned about the return to a good track.
"The way she's been racing it's not going to be any worry to her,'' he said.
"When the tracks are wet you can aim a bit higher because it brings them back to her. She's been racing consistently in some better quality races.
"She's only a little mare and the 59kg would be my only concern, the way she's been going she's been flying so if she can handle the weight hopefully she can knock off another win."
Of his other rides, Gibbons says he blames himself for the poor performance by Ting Tong at Rosehill last start and is hoping to atone in the Alf Kneebone Trans-Tasman Trophy (1850m).
He failed to beat a horse home in the race won by Pale King on October 29, stark contrast to his first two runs back this preparation.
"I got it a bit wrong. I probably should have sat off, when I took up the lead the one outside was going a bit keenly and we locked horns,'' he said.
"For too long we were going too quick and it took the finish off him. Hopefully this time we can get a bit cosier run in transit and see a better performance from him."
