Former Darwin jockey Wayne Davis made a spectacular start after relocating to Geraldton by booting home a first-up winner on Thursday.
It was the Geraldton Turf Club’s first meeting of the 2023/24 season, with Davis sealing victory in his first race aboard the Sean Rains-trained Thunder Pro in a 1413m maiden at the juicy odds of +4000.
The four-year-old mare, who was having her third start for the Rains stable, led from start to finish, with Davis making a huge impression in his WA debut.
Davis, 52, who based himself in Darwin and spent a decade riding throughout the NT, had six rides on the seven-event program and was understandably over the moon after his win on Thunder Pro, the daughter of Proart, who was having her sixth career start.
Rains already had a relationship with Davis after holding a trainer’s licence in Darwin from April 2018 until April 2020.
“We formed a very good friendship in Darwin, Sean turns his horses out a treat,” Davis said.
“He’s well and truly settled in Geraldton.
“He’s done exceptionally well as far as results go since he relocated here.
“Sean’s got about nine horses and he has some lovely horses among them.
“He’s a top man Seany and we’ve hit the ground running as a force already with a win on the board on my first day.
“It was a ripper day on Thursday and apart from Sean’s support I also had the chance to ride for local trainer Malcolm Mackenzie.”
No doubt Davis would have felt apprehensive prior to his first Geraldton race meeting, but the day could not have turned out any better.
“It was amazing to hit the ground running with a win like that being my first day as I’ve only been here a week,” he said.
“Went straight to the front with Thunder Pro.
“I was able to control and dictate the race and she gave a good kick.
“The horse was never shortening strides – it kept running strongly to the line.
“At the same time, the horse was in great condition and fit – it had been trained up super and raced accordingly.
“It was a great moment and result for everyone involved, and it was fantastic to get a quick score on the board.”
Davis has spent 35 years in the saddle, with a lot of time riding in Victoria and Tasmania before relocating to Darwin.
He loved his time in the Top End, but he constantly battled with the heat and humidity during the wet season and decided it was time for a sea change.
Renowned for celebrating enthusiastically after a race, Davis and members of the Rains stable gathered for dinner on Thursday night to mark the first win by the 52-year-old hoop at a location he now calls home.
“We did go for a very nice seafood dinner and a few beverages – wet the baby’s head, so to speak,” Davis said.
“Celebrated a great day at the office and look forward to future meetings with the big new move.
“I do have three rides on Saturday at Moora – it’s a two-hour drive from Geraldton.
“It’s good to get so many rides in such a short period of time.”
It was no surprise that Davis fielded messages of support, especially from Darwin, following his debut win at Geraldton.
“It’s great to have that support – I’m truly grateful,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of phone calls and well-wishes and messages from everywhere.
“I have a lot of terrific friends in Darwin and it will always be that way.
“We still bounce off each other even though I’m not in Darwin – you still have that great connection.”
Residing in a new home next to the Indian Ocean, located five minutes from the Geraldton racecourse, everything is seemingly falling into place for the ever-smiling jockey known as ‘WD’.
“Quite overwhelmed with the support and I’m in fact riding for a few trainers most mornings, where I can ride up to 10-12 horses,” he said.
“There are some nice horses among them – it’s keeping me fit and keeping my eye in.
“Looking forward to future Geraldton meetings coming up this racing season and hopefully there’s more success to come.”
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