Jockey Patrick Carbery admits he felt both pride and frustration watching Jokers Grin win without him last start, but he is more than ready to jump back aboard in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Carbery was ruled out after suffering a concussion in a Bunbury fall on November 13, which forced him to miss the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) soon after.
With 11 rides on Jokers Grin already under his belt—including earlier this year in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m)—Carbery is back in the saddle and drawn well in barrier six for his chance at a sixth Group 1 victory.
“I was out for the 12 days, and I’ve had to complete my Cogstate test, which I passed last Thursday,” Carbery said.
“It’s probably no different from any of the other major sports nowadays; it’s just the way things are.
“Sean (O’Donnell) was able to fill in. He didn’t get the keys for long, I got them back pretty quick, but he did a great job on him, and he’s bounced through the run really well.
“It was a mix of emotions that I wasn’t on him, but it was great to see the horse run well and he’d done what we expected him to do.
“It’s not the spot that I want to be in too many times, that’s for sure.”
Trainer Bernie Miller is hunting his first Group 1 success, with Jokers Grin having already delivered two of his three career Group wins. Carbery shrugged off any concern about the middle draw.
“I was expecting 11,” Carbery quipped, referencing his Quokka win from barrier 13.
“It’s just a number, you can’t control it, so you’ve just got to work it out.
“He’s drawn middle of the way, so we’ll just work it out and show everyone what he can do.”
Market tension has Jokers Grin and Overpass jostling for top spot, but Carbery does not subscribe to the idea that the race revolves around the pair.
“He’s not the only horse in the race,” Carbery said.
“He always runs well here, obviously, and he seems to thrive when he comes to Perth.
“He looks a million dollars, but the horses that have come from over East, they’re no slouches either.
“They’re all being prepared to win it.”
Prices currently sit with Jokers Grin at $2.60, Overpass at $2.90, with Rey Magnerio ($8) and Luana Miss ($9) rounding out the single-figure contenders.
If you’re putting a bet on the Winterbottom Stakes, make sure to check odds across the top Australian betting sites for the best value.