Star UK rider Billy Loughnane to kick off Australian stint at Rosehill Gardens

Teen riding sensation Billy Loughnane will have two rides for training partnership John O’Shea and Tom Charlton at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

He’s the Irish-born riding whiz kid that’s here to take the Australian summer by storm.

UK-based jockey Billy Loughnane, 18, touched down in Sydney this week for a two-month riding stint that will kick off at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

One of the hottest young riding prospects across the globe, Loughnane is eager to test himself and learn a new arena after setting the track alight in a touch over two years in the saddle.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The prodigious teen, dubbed “Billy the Kid” by the British press, won England’s champion apprentice in 2023 while piloting an incredible 162 winners across Europe throughout the 2024 season.

His remarkable year included a maiden feature win at the famed Royal Ascot meeting where he captured the Group 2 Coventry Stakes on Rashabar in June.

“It’s been a great two years back at home and especially this last season where I’ve had some great opportunities in bigger races,” Loughnane said.

“Just being able to travel the world a bit really has been amazing.

“I was at the Breeders’ Cup a few weeks ago and it’s great to be able to come out here and try to get some more experience.

“It’s a dream to come to ride on the biggest stages against some of the world’s best jockeys on some of the world’s best racehorses.”

What a finish! 80/1 shot Rashabar wins the Coventry Stakes in a photo at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/LHBEgZLjXn

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024

• ‘Disgraceful’: NSW Premier slams Rosehill corruption claim

Loughnane looks to follow in the footsteps of countless British-based hoops before him who had successful stints in Australia including soon to be crowned UK Champion Flat Jockey Oisin Murphy, Tom Marquand, William Buick and James Doyle.

A short term move to the Southern Hemisphere has been on his radar for some time.

“Since the middle of the season at home for last year, I was just looking to get away and obviously I have already been to America for a winter break from home,” Loughnane said.

“I thought I would come out to Australia and get some new skills elsewhere.

“Tom Marquand has helped me a lot, even just with regards to setting up out here.

“He’s been out here a few times now for a couple of winters and a couple of months at a time and he definitely helped.”

It will be a maximum two-month stint with Loughnane due to be back in the UK on February 1 to ride for boss George Boughey.

“I have to be back by then, but I will see how things are going and how I get on really,” Loughnane said.

“If it’s not really happening after a couple of weeks, I could go home sooner or if it’s going great I will obviously be staying as long as I can before I need to go back.

“I just want to ride as many winners as I can while I am down here but I have to go back by February because the season begins to ramp up in March and my boss George will have a lot of two-year-olds and horses getting to go in February.”

Trainer Tom Charlton is friends with Billy Loughnane’s boss George Boughey. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

It was Boughey’s friendship with “good mate” Tom Charlton which opened the door for Loughnane to make his Australian debut this weekend.

Loughnane has a pair of rides for Charlton and John O’Shea at the city meeting where he will pilot Good Banter and Captain Amelia.

A win on either horse would see Loughnane bring up a milestone 300th winner.

Good Banter ($15), a Group 3 winner as a three-year-old, gets out to a more favourable trip in the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m).

Captain Amelia ($14) is coming off a last-start Canterbury success with the Dundeel filly set to line up in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m).

Loughnane, who arrived in Australia at the beginning of the week, is keen to hit the ground running.

“I met Tom the other morning and rode a bit of trackwork, had a barrier trial for them the other morning and am grateful to be put on two live chances so quickly,” he said.

“I sat on both horses on Tuesday morning so fingers crossed they can both run well.”

Loughnane will be managed by Shaun Flaherty, who looks after Marquand during his regular summer stints in Australia.

Originally published as Star UK rider Billy Loughnane to kick off Australian stint at Rosehill Gardens