Jock loses irons beginning race, but rides & wins!

Braydon Swaffer rides Running Vixen to win in Caloundra without irons

APPRENTICE jockey Braydon Swaffer called on his pony club and bareback riding experience to land one of the most unusual wins ever seen in Australian racing at Caloundra yesterday.

Swaffer turned back the clock to the 1800s when he rode Running Vixen ($8) for the entire race like the last of the straight backs to win the aptly named Tough Mudder Hcp (1200m).

He explained that as the barriers opened he lost an iron and decided to kick both of his feet out of the stirrups so he could continue.

Running Vixen led to the turn where everyone expected her to stop quickly and drop out to be a long last. It is the usual scenario when a jockey loses his irons as the hoop has little control over his mount and the horse has to carry the full force of a jockey's weight.

However, much to the shock of favourite backers and other punters, Running Vixen kept going to score by a length to Lotachoc ($10) with a neck to the favourite Quick Peek ($2) in third.


cairnshub.blogspot.com/2013/01/braydon-swaffer-rides-running-vixen-to.html

also:
Swaffer loses irons but wins city race Racing News

Apprentice Braydn Swaffer remained calm in a difficult situation to ride his first city winner on Saturday.

The 17-year-old won on Running Vixen at the Sunshine Coast despite losing his riding irons soon after the start of the race.

"My foot slipped out of the iron about 50 metres after the start so I kicked the other one out to keep my balance," Swaffer said.

"I tried to stay calm and hold my balance without falling off."

Swaffer never contemplated easing Running Vixen out of the race when he first experienced difficulties.

"She was still travelling well and just because I didn't have any irons didn't mean I had to ease her up," he said.
"I wouldn't say it was my most stylish ride but it worked."

Trainer Trevor Thomas feared the worst when he saw Swaffer become unbalanced in the early stages.

"When she jumped out well I thought `that's good' but then I saw some legs dangling and I thought `that's not good'," Thomas said.

Swaffer has ridden 28 winners in North Queensland where he is apprenticed to trainer Trevor Rowe.

"I'm here for a month on loan to Pat Duff but things are going really well so we'll probably look to extend that to three months," he said.
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