ALREADY brimming with talent, the Melbourne jockeys' ranks are today further bolstered by the return of Nick Hall, who at 25 carries a potent mix of experience and a burning hunger into the spring carnival, reports The Age. It says: ''I'm setting myself for a big spring,'' Hall said yesterday shortly before taking his first ride back from a break at Geelong. ''I just feel I'm old enough to know right from wrong and what to do and when to do it, but still young enough to perform the best I can.''
ALREADY brimming with talent, the Melbourne jockeys' ranks are today further bolstered by the return of Nick Hall, who at 25 carries a potent mix of experience and a burning hunger into the spring carnival, reports The Age.
It says: ''I'm setting myself for a big spring,'' Hall said yesterday shortly before taking his first ride back from a break at Geelong. ''I just feel I'm old enough to know right from wrong and what to do and when to do it, but still young enough to perform the best I can.''
Hall has not ridden in Melbourne for about five weeks after an injured shoulder prematurely ended his season in June. After his holiday to the US with five other jockeys, Hall has settled back into the groove of riding trackwork and said yesterday he was fit and keen on the eve of taking four mounts at today's Moonee Valley meeting.
''The best part of taking a break is that I'm always so keen to get back into it,'' he said. ''Once you spend time away, you really miss it and so I can't wait.''
A multiple group 1 winner, Hall is on the verge of taking on the established Melbourne stars such as Luke Nolen, Craig Newitt and co. He finished eighth on the metropolitan jockeys' table last season with 32 winners - his highest finish as a senior rider.