Jockey Noel Callow back in the spotlight in Queensland

Trainers thought Noel Callow was “semi-retired” when he continued his career in Queensland. They were wrong. Now he is in-demand.

Noel Callow has returned to being a formidable metropolitan riding force, but says after he first arrived in Queensland many trainers thought he was in semi-retirement.

He never was.

But the larrikin jockey they call “King” – with five Aussie Group 1s to his name including the 2005 Victoria Derby – was riding at 58kg and comfortable enough competing on the provincial scene on the Gold Coast not far from his home.

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With big-race wins all over the world including a prolific stint in Singapore, Callow was still getting “white-line fever” and competing hard when the starter opened the barriers.

But there was a chance his riding career would fade away, with a lack of opportunities and little window to get a go on the city riding scene.

All that changed when a contact from his Singapore days – and some urging from friend and fellow rider Nash Rawiller – prompted him to redouble his efforts.

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Callow got a chance riding trackwork for Group 1 trainer Rob Heathcote in Brisbane and made the most of it, since becoming a regular fixture on the city riding scene.

He has ridden with great success in recent times including scoring last Saturday’s Queensland Guineas and riding an Eagle Farm treble the Saturday before.

“I sold my houses in Melbourne and I thought I would move up here four years ago, ride at 58 (kg) and just enjoy my life on the Gold Coast,” Callow said.

“I did that for probably three years.

Noel Callow has been enjoying strong success of late. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“At some stages, they (trainers) wouldn’t put me on their horses because they thought I was retired, they would rather put a young kid (jockey) on.

“That was wrong, because when the barriers open I get white-line fever and do my thing.

“But in their mind, they thought I was semi-retired and not having a go.

“But a mate of mine from Singapore told me to really have a go and he got me an opportunity with Rob Heathcote.

“It snowballed from there and I said to my wife, ‘I’m really going to have a crack, I’m not getting any younger’.

“And here we are now.”

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Callow also recounted the time, about two years ago, when he met Rawiller for lunch on the Gold Coast.

“Nash gave me a (verbal) spray in front of my wife,” Callow said.

“He said to me that he thought that I had given up.

“I said ‘no, I haven’t, I’m just happy to poke along’.

“Nash said I was the fiercest bloke I ever rode against when we were younger.”

Noel Callow with Annabel Archibald after their victory in last Saturday’s Queensland Guineas with Depth Of Character. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Callow, who has ridden 34 city winners this season, will partner Just Folk ($19) for Victorian trainer Gavin Bedggood in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

He has two-year-old colt Fabulantes ($8.50) for Heathcote as a strong chance in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic among his book of rides.

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Callow might be riding at the Gold Coast on Saturday – but the metropolitan carnival meeting carries much more clout than the provincial meetings he rode at on the same track for years.

“I am fitter now and riding at a lower weight and I have now put myself in the top five jockeys in Queensland, especially since James Orman moved to Hong Kong,” Callow said.

“I’m there to be picked.”

Callow’s best winning chance on Saturday looks to be $3.40 favourite Wanda Rox in the Bat Out Of Hell scamper over 1000m.

Originally published as Jockey Noel Callow back in the spotlight in Queensland