Keen fisherman Ryan Maloney aiming to hook Group 1 in JJ Atkins

Jockey Ryan Maloney was fishing in his tinnie on Thursday, but is striving to hook a big Group 1 prize in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Keen fisherman Ryan Maloney is preparing to hook another Group 1 winner as he aims up in Saturday’s $1m JJ Atkins.

Jockeys have a variety of ways for readying themselves for a Group 1 assignment but Maloney spent Thursday morning on his tinnie while fishing on the Gold Coast.

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They were relaxing times and there were no troubled waters, ahead of the hustle and bustle of riding Ciaron Maher-trained two-year-old colt Navy Pilot in Saturday’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

“I try to be a fisherman, I did it when I was a kid, but once I started riding I never really found time,” Maloney said.

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“But my next door neighbour has got a boat and when I moved to Sorrento, I just started fishing with him.

“I got the (fishing) bug back, so I bought myself a little tinnie.

“I normally go out in the (Gold Coast) Broadwater and I try to get out once a week.

“I love it and we catch flathead, jewfish and snapper.

“I’m no good at filleting them and boning them, I take them down to the seafood shop and they do that for me – or my next door neighbour does it.”

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Ryan Maloney will ride Ciaron Maher-trained colt Navy Pilot in the Group 1 JJ Atkins. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography

Life has been good for Maloney since he made the move from Victoria to the Sunshine State several years ago.

Maloney now has six career Group 1s to his name and only last Saturday scored in the Group 1 Queensland Derby aboard Maison Louis for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

He has become Maher’s go-to jockey in the Sunshine State and rode Group 1s for the champion Victorian trainer during last year’s winter carnival when he won the Queensland Oaks on $101 bolter Socks Nation and the Tatt’s Tiara on Bella Nipotina.

Maloney partners Navy Pilot in Saturday’s JJ Atkins and there has been a steady stream of money for the colt which has trimmed from $14 to $9 in the last few days.

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Navy Pilot is backing up from finishing third behind impressive filly Sunrays in a Listed race over 1500m at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Maloney is convinced the expensive colt, a two-year-old son of I Am Invincible, can give the JJ Atkins a serious shake.

“He has certainly got the ability,” Maloney said.

“He is in his first preparation, so he still does a few little things wrong.

An easy win to the fav Navy Pilot in the Eagle Farm opener! 🧑‍✈️@cmaherracing | @RMaloney_Jockey | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/OwYLqYlm7v

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

“The other day he was a bit of a drunken sailor in the straight.

“Just at a vital stage when I went to make my run, Sunrays rolled out a little bit and it just took the wind out of his sails.

“Then he had to pick up and go again, which is very hard for a two-year-old to do.

“I reckon he is right in it on Saturday.”

* Trainer reveals Group 1 JJ Atkins contender was ‘flying blind' in lead-up

Maloney is a Queenslander these days and there is a distinct Queensland flavour in the 2025 JJ Atkins.

Two of the betting fancies are both trained at Eagle Farm, Chris and Corey Munce’s winning machine Cool Archie and Kelly Schweida’s colt Grafterburners.

Originally published as Keen fisherman Ryan Maloney aiming to hook Group 1 in JJ Atkins