‘I know I could mix it with them’: Bullock weighs in to rising debate

Brilliant bush jockey Aaron Bullock knows he could mix it with Sydney’s best every week, if he was two kilograms lighter.

Or, as retired champion Glen Boss has proposed, weights were raised across the board.

For now, though, Bullock will be happy to just add to his recent success in town when he guides Joe Pride-trained Accredited in the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Newcastle-based Bullock has been a dominant force in country racing for the past seven seasons, racking up more than 850 winners, including a national premiership in 2022-23 when he had 208 victories.

The 35-year-old has achieved all that, at a career strike rate of 20 per cent, despite rarely riding below 58 kilograms. He got to 57kg to pilot Scone galloper Cormier, his second group 1 chance, to second in the JJ Atkins three weeks ago, and he will do that again on Saturday to partner Accredited.

“For me to ride 58 every day of the week, it’s semi-normal,” Bullock said.

“I’ve still got to diet hard, prepare and train, but I can manage it. But anything under that, I’m preparing for a week or two.”

Bullock picked up the ride on Accredited because Nash Rawiller has taken a break. The veteran jockey has been among those to support Boss’ call to raise weights.

If given the power, Boss said he would lift weights four to six kilograms across the board to help keep jockeys, especially emerging male riders, in the sport and healthy.

Rawiller echoed the sentiments, saying it was time for another change, after a rise 30 years ago helped keep him in the game. Trainer Wayne Hawkes advocated for a five-kilogram rise in a one-month winter trial next year to assess the impact on horses and betting.

“I know I could mix it with them, and if I was two kilos lighter, I’d probably be down there in Sydney full-time,” Bullock said.

“I don’t want to sound bias, because I’m a heavyweight, but I feel there definitely should be a trial.

“But I make a good living and I’m having success how it is now. I’m not one for wanting change straight away, but if they wanted to put a trial in place and see how it rolled, it would make it a lot easier for me.

“I’m one of those that the weight scale has helped keep me in the game. I can still eat and be fit and healthy, but I see a lot of young boys, like Bossy said, coming into the game now, they are getting taller and skinnier.”

Bullock has 102 winners this season, despite having time out with a broken scapula and ribs from a fall at Taree in March. He has taken the chance to compete in Sydney in recent weeks and has six wins from 21 rides in town this season.

“I’ve been down there most Saturdays lately and making the most of the opportunities, and I’ve been getting a winner most meetings,” he said.

“I’ve got to knuckle down for the rest of the season, then I’m going to have a week off and prepare myself for Cormier. He’s going to get a weight that I haven’t really gone down to for a long time when he goes to the Run To The Rose. I’ve got to get down to probably 56.”

On Saturday, Accredited was a $10 chance after a first-up seventh in the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes a month ago. Pride was pleased with the six-year-old’s work since, and to pick up Bullock.

“Geez he’s a good jockey,” Pride said.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to use him much, but I’m more than happy to have him on board.

“I was disappointed with the horse’s first-up run, but he probably wasn’t in the part of the track you needed to be that day. He probably found them a little bit sharp, but I think 1300 to 1400m is his right trip.

“I don’t want it too wet for him, but he’ll run. The horse is in good shape. He trialled up really nicely last Friday.”

Pride also has Cool Jakey ($9), which will relish a wet track, in the race. He said Poison Chalice ($81) would likely be saved for next week.

Bullock was also looking forward to riding Marc Quinn-trained Calypso Rocket in the Highway Handicap. He has two wins from two rides on the three-year-old.

“I trialled him up the other and went really good,” Bullock said.

“He’s come back a better horse.”

Pride, meanwhile, said “it’s the moment of truth” for Big Red Tequila ($1.55) in the fourth.

“If she’s going to fulfil the potential I think she’s got, she needs to take care of those horses,” Pride said.

“I thought she would have won one of her first two runs. She’s run into Ice Kool both times, and I don’t think either run has been bad, but I’ve got a big opinion of her, so I need to see her do it.”