Apprentice jockey Braith Nock continuing to ride wave of success

Apprentice Braith Nock has transformed a short-term Sydney loan into a title-winning season, wrapping up the 2024-25 Sydney junior riders’ premiership weeks ahead of schedule.

Nock joined Peter Snowden’s stable from his home base in Scone with hopes of refining his race riding, but after a midweek double at Canterbury, he’s now recorded 38 city wins—well ahead of his nearest rival, Molly Bourke.

That haul places him ninth in the Sydney jockeys’ standings and second across New South Wales behind Aaron Bullock, who leads the statewide title on 114 wins to Nock’s 107.

At Randwick on Saturday, Nock was originally booked for a full card, though a scratching has reduced his rides to nine. He will still team up with high-profile stables including Ciaron Maher, the Hayes brothers, and the Archibald partnership.

“It has been a little bit surreal,” Nock said.

“But it’s good to get the opportunities and make the most of them.”

One of his key engagements is Katsu, who lines up in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1000m). The five-time winner will carry 64kg with Nock’s two-kilo claim factored in, but the apprentice isn’t daunted by the weight.

“It’s only ever won over 1000 and as Joe Pride says, weight shouldn’t matter unless it’s over 1400 (or further),” he said.

“As long as they go quick and it’s not a sit and sprint which over 1000 metres, they generally do.”

He also links back up with It’s A Knockout in the TAB Handicap (1400m), a mare he steered to an impressive win at her last start.

“She has only got to run up to that and I’m sure she is going to take improvement off the first-up run. She really came up underneath me that day,” he said.

Despite his city success, Nock says he’s not rushing to relocate from Scone, where he appreciates the quieter pace and stable base.

“There is definitely lots of travelling but if there are a couple of days of racing in the same area I try to stay down so I’m not back and forth so much,” he said.

“I dare say at the end of the season I might take a week or two off.

“I know I have a bit of momentum but hopefully I’ve got the connections to help me get straight back into it.”

For those watching Saturday’s action at Randwick, betting on Braith Nock’s rides could be a smart play given his remarkable run of form.