Just over six months ago, apprentice Braith Nock left his Scone base for a three-month loan with trainer Peter Snowden in Sydney, aiming simply to improve his craft in the saddle.
That short-term goal has evolved into something much greater, with Nock now crowned the Sydney junior riders’ premiership winner for the 2024-25 season—with three weeks still remaining.
His double at Canterbury on Wednesday took his city tally to 38 wins, a full 14 clear of his nearest rival Molly Bourke, and elevated him to ninth place on the overall Sydney jockeys’ ladder.
State-wide, Nock has racked up 107 winners—second only to Aaron Bullock’s 114—and he remains an outside chance of claiming overall NSW riding honours.
This Saturday at Randwick, an early scratching has trimmed his original full book to nine rides, but he’ll still partner with respected trainers including Ciaron Maher, the Hayes brothers, and Annabel and Rob Archibald.
“It has been a little bit surreal,” Nock said.
“But it’s good to get the opportunities and make the most of them.”
Among his mounts is the consistent sprinter Katsu, lining up in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1000m) for Lindsay Park. The five-time winner will carry 64kg after Nock’s 2kg claim, a weight rarely seen in metropolitan races today.
Nock pointed to Storm The Ramparts’ recent victory under 62.5kg as a positive sign that Katsu can still be competitive at the short trip.
“It’s only ever won over 1000 and as Joe Pride says, weight shouldn’t matter unless it’s over 1400 (or further),” he said.
“As long as they go quick and it’s not a sit and sprint which over 1000 metres, they generally do.”
Nock will also combine with Maher-trained It’s A Knockout in the TAB Handicap (1400m), having ridden the mare to an impressive win last month.
“She has only got to run up to that and I’m sure she is going to take improvement off the first-up run. She really came up underneath me that day,” he said.
Despite his growing success in Sydney, Nock is in no rush to relocate permanently, still appreciating the slower pace of life in the Hunter region.
“There is definitely lots of travelling but if there are a couple of days of racing in the same area I try to stay down so I’m not back and forth so much,” he said.
“I dare say at the end of the season I might take a week or two off.
“I know I have a bit of momentum but hopefully I’ve got the connections to help me get straight back into it.”
For punters following Nock’s momentum and mounts like Katsu in The Agency Real Estate Handicap, there are plenty of betting opportunities to keep an eye on this Saturday.
