Top Australian jockeys to bet on this winter
FOLLOWING hot jockeys is a recipe for success and there are some Australian-based riders which have been rewarding for punters this season.
With a tough winter period approaching to see out the 2016/2017 season, we have found the jockeys which are red hot and also the jockeys which we’re expecting to excel in the wet conditions.
The big names such as Craig Williams, Damien Oliver and Hugh Bowman might steal the headlines with their major victories, but in terms of winning strike rate they’re not overly impressive and punters make money off the most consistent and often underrated jockeys.
Finding the jockeys that go under the radar is important for punters. Western Australia’s William Pike is currently sitting in second place with 141 wins for the season at a great strike rate of 26.26 percent, but every punter knows about the “Pike Effect” which dramatically decreases punters’ value.
Most horses Pike rides are undervalued in the market and whilst he has a good strike rate, the value with his runners is all but gone, so we’re focussing on the jockeys which don’t attract attention in the market and can still earn punters plenty of cash towards the end of the season.
Jamie Kah
21-year-old Jamie Kah is riding out of her skin this season and the statistics tell us it’s about to get better during the winter.
The South Australian-based jockey is sitting 10th in the National Premiership standings with 87 wins from 470 starts since August. That gives her a win rate of 18 percent and an incredible 47 percent for the place.
That stat increases to 50 percent when she rides at country-based tracks where Kah has won 51 of her 229 starts, compared to 36 from 234 starts at the metropolitan level.
Punters are making good money off Jamie Kah this season. She has a +2 percent return on income over the last 12 months and a whopping +13 percent return from her last 100 starts.
Punters should expect to see that stat rise throughout the winter months if last season is anything to go by. Kah returned +164 percent in June 2016 with an average win odds of $10.87. The money continued to roll in July and August where she returned over 35 percent return on income for both months.
There’s no doubting that her best form comes on rain-affected ground with 47 wins from 260 starts over the last 12 months. We’re expecting a wet winter and punters can cash in with Jamie Kah.
Jeff Lloyd
Jeff Lloyd has become a household name this season as he leads both the Queensland and National Jockeys’ Premier with an incredible 142 wins so far.
With such a record this season you would expect to see Lloyd riding short-priced winners, but punters are still getting good value for the 55-year-old who continues to fly under punters’ radars.
Lloyd has many crowning achievements throughout his career, which included an Australian Derby win aboard Nom du Jeu in 2008, but from 2012 to 2015 the most wins Lloyd scored in one season was 89 (2015) – the other three seasons equalled 73 wins combined.
A resurgence in form has seen his return on income go from -20 percent to +10 percent for 2017 and he continues to boot home winners at good odds.
He is currently +49 percent over his last 100 rides with an average winning price of $7.11 and more incredibly he is +599 percent up over his last 10 rides – thanks to three winners at a win average of $23.30.
Punters haven’t cottoned onto the fact that Lloyd will continue to ride winners in the winter months as his ROI on soft ground is +21 percent, compared to +1 percent on dry tracks.
With the Brisbane winter carnival fast approaching, now is the best time to back Jeff Lloyd and Ladbrokes.com.au offer great odds on Queensland racing.
Zoe White
We know what you’re thinking…Zoe who? But stick with us on this one.
Zoe White is a Queensland-based apprentice which will use her apprentice claim to good advantage throughout the Brisbane winter carnival.
The 18-year-old has yet to have a group or listed race ride, but she could be used in the lesser-graded races during the carnival and there’s plenty to like about her statistics.
White has a ROI of 14 percent over the last 12 months and seven percent over her last 100 rides. Punters might need to wait a few months for White to show her best form, but it will be well worth the wait. White recorded five straight months of a positive ROI last year and we’re picking she does it again.
She returned a ROI of 89 percent in August, 25 percent in September, 66 percent in October, 67 percent in November and 4 percent in December. Her best stats came in the winter months, but she’s more than just a wet track rider.
White has had five starts on a firm track over the last 12 months for two wins and two placings. She knows how to ride on all tracks, but that apprentice claim will be of service for the rest of the season.