Michael Walker puts on his serious face and leans on the wall of the Flemington jockeys’ room.
«You know, I really miss driving,» he said between mouthfuls of orange juice.
«I miss driving long distances to race meetings.»
Which puts the former New Zealand jockey in one of the world’s smallest queues.
«I used to love driving through the Mangaweka Gorge.»
The regret may be genuine, but it disappears when Walker picks up his weekly paycheck. He sometimes rides six days a week. That’s Driving apart, there are no real regrets about moving to Melbourne and there is talk about Racing in Sydney and Melbourne is a fashion cycle — ride a winner and the phone starts ringing, ride a succession of losers and the best rider can sit at home on raceday. You are always only one good horse away from the headlines. Walker’s name has been missing from the headlines lately because of one fateful decision early in the spring. He turned down the ride on Starcraft in New Zealand to stay loyal to Kempinsky, Because Kempinsky clashed with Regal Roller in one race, he turned down the opportunity to ride that horse and was not asked again. «But for Kempinsky I would have won those races at Hastings on Starcraft and I’d have won the two group ones and the two groups twos on Regal Roller in Melbourne — I’d have been the headline rider of the spring.» It doesn’t worry him that he’s not the "People might say I’m not going that well, but they don’t know what it takes to be the top jockey in Melbourne, and it’s not just about riding horses. «Everything you do is analysed.» Walker has been in Australia more than six months and says it takes longer than that to maximise contacts. «Next year, when I’ve been here a year and a half I’ll have better rides.» Walker will make his decision about the Waterhouse offer after the carnival. «Gai and I get on really well, she’s a lovely lady and I enjoy working with her.» Meantime Walker is concentrating on the race that like no other will rocket him into stardom if he can — the Melbourne Cup He will ride the Mike Moroney gives Catchmeifyoucan a real outside chance. «He’ll improve a lot with that run and he’ll settle well in running. Rain would be a big bonus.» * Get the latest nzherald headlines delivered to your inbox every morning, afternoon, or both. It’s free!