Aaron Bullock, a prominent jockey from New South Wales, is set to ride the favourite, Know Thyself, in the upcoming $500,000 The Lakes Mile at Wyong. This race, scheduled for Saturday, marks a significant opportunity for Bullock as he looks to secure his chances in the Country Championships qualifiers.
Bullock has attributed his success to horses like Know Thyself, stating they help him enter “a different zone” during his weight management. He plans to ride Know Thyself at 56.5 kilograms, the same weight he achieved when guiding the horse to victory in the $1 million Country Championships final at Randwick last April.
Despite facing challenges in maintaining a lighter weight, Bullock has dominated the country racing scene. He won the NSW premiership last season with 127 winners, finished second with 137 winners in the ongoing season, and claimed the national title in the 2022-23 season with 207.5 winners. His recent success includes a narrow first-up victory on Know Thyself, who triumphed in a benchmark 100 handicap at Randwick on December 20.
Know Thyself, a gelding by The Autumn Sun, boasts an impressive record of eight wins from twelve starts. Bullock expressed optimism about the horse’s potential, especially after a challenging spring campaign hindered by a hoof injury. “You never want to say good horses have come back better, but I reckon he has,” Bullock noted.
The jockey was particularly pleased when Know Thyself drew barrier four, a favourable position for the tight Wyong circuit. “I was sitting there refreshing the website all morning, and he ends up drawing barrier four, and that couldn’t have worked out better,” Bullock explained. This advantageous draw could play a crucial role in the race outcome.
In addition to his focus on Know Thyself, Bullock is eyeing strong prospects in the upcoming months. He anticipates riding Oakfield Jupiter, trained by Damien Lane, in the Provincial-Midway series, and Clear Thinking, the Kosciuszko winner trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, in the Country titles. Bullock is committed to maintaining peak fitness as he prepares for the February qualifiers, stating, “It’s just about getting my body as fit and healthy as I can.”
On Saturday, Bullock will also compete on Age Of Sail and Hanau, both trained in Newcastle. He previously rode Age Of Sail to victory in the Port Macquarie Cup in October, and while the horse has faced challenges since then, Bullock believes a drop in grade could help bring back its form.
As Bullock gears up for this important race at Wyong, his determination reflects not only his aspirations for victory but also his commitment to his craft in the competitive world of horse racing.
