Jordan Childs’ win on Surprise Baby in The Bart Cummings at Flemington not only secured the horse a place in the Melbourne Cup, it helped clinch the young jockey a big pay day.
Childs was crowned the inaugural ‘Star of the Saddle’ after Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes program, earning him the $50,000 cash prize.
The 23-year-old rode a winning double on the program, scoring aboard two-year-old Mildred in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes before his win on Surprise Baby.
In between those two wins Childs also had a couple of second placings on Hawker Hurricane and Independent Road to finish the meeting with 10 points.
His nearest challenger was another young gun of the Melbourne riding ranks, Jye McNeil on seven points.
McNeil claimed his first Group One win aboard Kings Will Dream in the Turnbull Stakes.
The ‘Star of the Saddle’ has been launched to recognise the best and fairest jockey at selected feature meetings throughout the Victorian spring carnival.
Points are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis to the placegetters in each race.
Another $50,000 is on offer at Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas meeting.
The prize for the ‘Star of the Saddle’ on each of Caulfield Cup day, the Cox Plate carnival and Victoria Derby Day is $100,000.