Jake continuing a proud family tradition in Ipswich

Date: 17-Jun-2024

GROUP 1 winning jockey Jake Bayliss’ family affinity with the Ipswich Turf Club goes back a few generations, but really gathered pace when he and his brother Regan would ‘wag’ a final session at school on the odd occasion to catch the last few races at the track.

The name Bayliss is synonymous with the ITC.

Jake’s great grandfather Colin was a life member of the club. His grandfather Bob Bayliss was clerk of the course at Ipswich for 25 years and his Aunty Sharon was clerk here for a long time as well.

His Dad Jamie, a well-known jockey, also trained at Ipswich for a time and it’s where Jake cut his teeth after being granted a license to ride.

Naturally enough then, Jake and Regan – also a Group 1 winning rider – have many stories to tell about their time growing up in Ipswich and their desperation to get to the track.

“I rode work every morning at the track once I got my license,” Jake says.

“Prior to that Regan and I would catch the first bus out of Ipswich Central after school and catch it to Bundamba and run as fast as we could to catch the last three or four races on a Thursday or Friday afternoon.

“A couple of times we wagged the last session of high school so we could get there to watch Dad’s runners.”

After working for a period of time with his father and a number of other local Ipswich trainers, Jake made the move to Melbourne to work for highly-respected horseman Mick Kent.

Using Victoria as the base to close out his apprenticeship opened the door for Bayliss to make a number of key connections which led to an international career at an early age.

“I had just come out of my time and was riding a lot for Mike Moroney and he proposed I ride through the (New Zealand) summer carnival to ride for him and also for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott,” Bayliss said.

“It was a fantastic opportunity and it gifted me my first Group 1 winner (Railway Stakes on Volpe Veloce in January, 2018), other Group races and built the resume up for me.”

Bayliss made a visit to the Queensland winter in 2018, following some of his New Zealand mounts across and he managed to win the Listed Wayne Wilson on Hopfgarten for the Rob Heathcote stable during that visit.

In 2019, Bayliss rode another two Group 1 winners in New Zealand before weighing up his career options, which were being swayed by some family issues here at home.

“I wanted to come back to the Brisbane carnival again, because I enjoyed being back home. I was in two minds whether to apply for Singapore or go back to New Zealand,” he said.

“My grandfather fell sick, so I stayed in Brisbane and looked after the family farm. I ended up staying here for 12-18 months, having good success. Then after my grandfather passed away I had a crack at Singapore and was fortunate enough to get in.

“It was a very successful stint. I rode a Group 1 winner (Prosperous Return in the Queen Elizabeth Cup) and a Group 2 (Golden Monkey in the Singapore 3YO Classic).

“Then I went back to NZ. I always had wanted to go back, but eventually, I came back to Brisbane.”

It was this latest move that led to one of Jake’s career highlights. It may not have carried Group 1 status, but the affinity Jake has for Ipswich meant his win in last year’s Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic aboard Chassis for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace was one he will long remember.

“I was looking forward to getting back to Brisbane with a stronger resume, hungrier than ever and more experienced,” he said.

“I rode a couple of nice winners over the carnival for trainers who I hadn’t ridden for. I rode Miracles Of Love to her maiden win for Paul Messara (before she placed in the G1 J.J. Atkins) and then I picked up the ride on Chassis.

“I had ridden a little for Ciaron when I was an apprentice in Melbourne.

“I reckon I carried on more winning that race on Chassis than I did in any of my four Group 1s.

“It was just so sentimental being an Ipswich boy and winning one of the features.”

Jake is looking forward to getting back out to Ipswich on Cup Day to see if he can build on his feature tally here.

“Things are going really well at the moment. I have made a few nice connections and I can ride light this winter carnival,” he said.

“I can ride 52kg in any of the bigger races. I’m hoping for another strong book on Ipswich Cup day and hopefully a live chance in the Ipswich Cup would be fantastic.”

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