Melbourne Cup winning jockey Brett Prebble announces retirement
Decorated jockey Brett Prebble has called time on his glittering career after more than 31 years in the saddle.
The Melbourne Cup winning jockey who rode extensively in Asia, announced on Tuesday that he was retiring from the saddle to concentrate on business.
Prebble runs a highly successful racing gear manufacturing business – Persuader International – which began as a sideline to his riding career from his father’s garage in Ballarat in 1995, a career that started as a 14-year-old when apprenticed to Terry O’Sullivan at Stawell.
After quickly rising through the ranks, Prebble headed to Flemington-based John Meagher where he quickly established himself as the leading apprentice and became a part of the Meagher family.
Prebble went on to win three Melbourne Apprentices’ Premierships, two Melbourne Jockeys’ Premierships, a Scobie Breasley Medal while also sharing one with Damien Oliver.
He rode a record breaking nine winners during Melbourne Cup week in 1999 and again the following year and became the first jockey to ride 100 winners in a season riding 99-½ (including a dead-heat) in the 1999-2000 season.
In late 2002, an offer came from the Hong Kong Jockey Club which Prebble expected to last just one season, but he was there until 2018 before returning to Australia.
He rode 803 winners in the Asian mecca, only bettered by fierce rival Douglas Whyte, Zac Purton and Joao Moreira, rode 18 Hong Kong Group 1 winners including Bullish Luck, Cape Of Good Hope, Sacred Kingdom and Lucky Nine.
He guided Bullish Luck to win the Yasuda Kinen in Japan in 2006, won the Singapore KrsFlyer International Sprint of three occasions along with return visits to Melbourne to win the Melbourne Cup in 2012 on Green Moon and the Golden Slipper in 2010 on Crystal Lily.
In 2018 Prebble returned to Melbourne , winning five Group 1 including the Caulfield Cup on c before running second in the Melbourne Cup on that galloper in the 2021.
In January 2023, Prebble relocated to Sydney and rode 42 winners, his last coming for Chris Waller on Bold Mac at Randwick on February 24.
“I’m so lucky to end an extraordinary career with my health and well-being intact with an exciting “life after riding” ready to go,” Prebble said in a statement.
“My new challenge is to develop Persuader International into the world leader in the manufacturing of horse racing equipment.
“Since my first ride as a 15-year-old, I’ve been blessed to have an amazing group guide and support me, and because of them, I’ve been able to experience the most incredible opportunities.
“For a kid from Ballarat, to have formed great relationships with some of the most successful people in the world of Australian and international horse racing, how special is that.”
Prebble retires with more than 2100 winners from around 16,500 rides, 25 Group 1 wins in Australia along with international Group 1 victories in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
“I look back knowing I started my career with absolutely nothing,” Prebble said.
“I’m happy I gave it everything I could to be the best I could possibly be and I’m actually really proud of what I’ve achieved.”
More Racing News
Tennessee Bound to bypass Caulfield for Sandown assignment
While Tennessee Bound would likely be a leading contender for favouritism in the Caulfield race she is entered for, trainer Ciaron Maher is intent on continuing his measured approach with the undefeated mare.Consequently, the four-year-old is expected to make her next start in Wednesday's 1200-metre Evergreen Turf Handicap at Sandown.The...
Bellatrix Star's comeback looms in the Sir John Monash Stakes
Mark Walker is proceeding with caution regarding the return of the classy mare Bellatrix Star, based on his experiences with her over the past two seasons.This Saturday, the mare is expected to make her reappearance in the $200,000 Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.The 1100-metre weight-for-age race will...
Hard Kick's preparation for major spring sprint begins
The traditional winter period typically isn't a springboard for success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but the Lindsay Park training team is pinning its hopes on Hard Kick.The unexposed gelding is poised to commence a campaign that has its sights set on the lucrative $2 million Group 1 sprint for...
Music Time set for Kosciuszko path in spring
Trainer Gratz Vella has confirmed that Music Time will be pointed towards The Kosciuszko during the Sydney spring carnival, foregoing the Group 1 Golden Rose for three-year-olds.Vella highlighted the irresistible appeal of The Kosciuszko for country trainers and indicated that the Golden Slipper placegetter might be better suited to the...
Tim Clark sees great potential in By Choice's return
Despite Tulloch Lodge's usual high benchmarks, their two-year-old season has been somewhat subdued. Nevertheless, their primary stable jockey, Tim Clark, anticipates that the current crop of youngsters will more than make up for lost ground as they transition to three-year-old racing.Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have seen 14 juvenile winners...
Sheza Alibi's move back to Pakenham imminent
The serious phase of training is fast approaching for Sheza Alibi.The exciting filly is drawing near the end of her northern sojourn in Queensland and will soon be repatriated to the Pakenham stable operated by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.The daughter of Saxon Warrior journeyed north following her stunning victory...
Cellarmaster triumphs in a tight finish to claim the Winx Guineas
In a thrilling conclusion, Cellarmaster ($5.50) narrowly pipped Platinum Pantheon ($6.50) at the post, with Rustemo ($8.50) trailing in third, more than a length adrift.Leading bookmakers noted Cellarmaster's winning dividend at $5.50, while the favoured runner Within The Law ($2.60) failed to live up to expectations despite being heavily supported.The...
James Healy celebrates first stakes win with Arabian Rose in Glasshouse Handicap
Sunshine Coast trainer James Healy has secured his maiden stakes victory thanks to the unheralded mare Arabian Rose, who triumphed in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on her home track at Caloundra.Initially listed as the third emergency when final acceptors were declared, Arabian Rose's place in the field was uncertain, with...
Wise Inlaw Triumphs in Creswick Stakes with Cartwright Up
Luke Cartwright achieved a career highlight aboard Wise Inlaw in Saturday's $175,000 A R Creswick Stakes at Flemington over 1200 metres.The leading metropolitan apprentice in Victoria notched his first Stakes race victory guiding the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding to the winner's circle in the Listed event.This occasion represented...
Thebudgiesmugla primed for spring carnival after Caloundra Cup win
Trainer Bjorn Baker has indicated that Thebudgiesmugla will likely bypass the upcoming Grafton Cup, with his sights set firmly on the spring carnival, specifically targeting a Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.This impressive run comes from a five-year-old gelding who initially arrived from New Zealand with questions surrounding his suitability,...