Melbourne Cup heartbreak won’t stop Bundamba boy Bayliss

More accustomed to riding a horse, jockey Regan Bayliss has been on an emotional roller coaster for the past 10 days.

The Bundamba boy was primed to ride Ventura Storm in tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup before being hit with a careless riding suspension last Thursday.

The timing of the seven-meeting ban meant the 20-year-old was still free to ride at Flemington on Saturday, where he finished sixth in the $1 million Coolmore Stud Stakes on Dracarys.

“(The suspension) is obviously very, very disappointing – it’s shattering really – but I’ve got plenty of time ahead of me to get a ride in the Melbourne Cup,” a philosophical Bayliss told Ipswich First.

“It was great to be part of Derby Day and I’ll be back to finish the cup carnival at Emirates Stakes Day on the weekend.

“It will be a quiet one tomorrow, I’ll be watching the races from home.”

Bayliss lined up on Derby Day just one week after riding alongside champion jockey Hugh Bowman and Winx in the duo’s historic third Cox Plate win.

It’s a far cry from the family’s former Stafford Street stables where he grew up as the youngest son of an Ipswich Cup winner, but the 20-year-old is taking it all in his stride.

“It was unbelievable to have my first ride in the Cox Plate but to be part of that day was something special,” Bayliss said.

“That Cox Plate is going to be watched over and over again for many years to come and even though my horse (Seaburge) wasn’t a genuine chance it was still a highlight.

“The next step for me is riding in a Cox Plate when I’ve got a real shot at winning.”

‘Winning’ was the only way to describe the start of Bayliss’s career when he guided Alana’s Dream to victory in his debut race in July 2013.

He has since ridden 276 winners across four states and claimed his maiden Group 1 in March this year on the David Hayes trained Redkirk Warrior.

WATCH: Jockey Regan Bayliss gets his maiden Group 1 win on board Redkirk Warrior.

The former St Edmund’s College student made the move to Melbourne in late 2010 with his father Jamie, 48, and brother Jake, 23.

The Bayliss boys are all jockeys and completed a rare trifecta when they rode in the same race at Geelong in April 2014. For the record, Jamie finished last, Regan ran third and Jake got the win.

“I’ve always been really lucky to have a lot of good people around me,” Bayliss said.

“Ever since I started I’ve been very fortunate in that aspect and it makes everything easier. I always feel like I’m comfortable, well prepared mentally and physically and ready to go.

“Saturday is another chance to get a big win and I know I’ve got a good horse in Redkirk Warrior in the Darley Classic. He’s undefeated down the straight at Flemington so I’ve got to focus on my job and move on from the Melbourne Cup.”

Bayliss brothers keep riding in the family

Images and stats thanks to Racing.com