Lightweight jockey Grant Buckley is hoping to make the most of the opportunity provided to him by leading trainer David Hayes on Red Element in Saturday's Group One The Galaxy at Randwick.Buckley, 35, is based at Hawkesbury on Sydney's western outskirts and was excited when he got the call from his manager on Wednesday morning."I've just been trying to make the most of my opportunities and this is a huge opportunity that David had presented me with, it's my first ride for him and hopefully it le
Lightweight jockey Grant Buckley is hoping to make the most of the opportunity provided to him by leading trainer David Hayes on Red Element in Saturday's Group One The Galaxy at Randwick.
Buckley, 35, is based at Hawkesbury on Sydney's western outskirts and was excited when he got the call from his manager on Wednesday morning.
"I've just been trying to make the most of my opportunities and this is a huge opportunity that David had presented me with, it's my first ride for him and hopefully it leads to something," Buckley said.
"A couple of years ago I was riding more at the provincials but I've been working hard in Sydney in the last couple of years, riding work all over the place, and it's starting to pay off."
Stakeswinner Red Element comes into the 1100-metre feature off a disappointing unplaced run in the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7.
"He's got no weight (51kg) on his back and everything is falling into place for him after drawing barrier one, hopefully he can bounce back to form, it would be huge for both of us," Buckley said.
TAB Sportsbet has Red Element at $26 while Black Prince and Gamble Me are the $6.50 equal favourites.
"It was only three starts back that he won at stakes level at Caulfield and he's had a freshen-up for this and I'm sure he'll appreciate that," Buckley said of the entire.
The Mick Price-trained mare Bel Mer, who drew the outside barrier, 18, is an early scratching from The Galaxy.
A couple of races before The Galaxy, Buckley will partner one of his favourite horses, Belong To Many.
The Barbara Joseph-trained mare runs in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) in which the frontrunner has drawn well in barrier five.
Buckley steered her to victory in the Listed Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m) at Randwick two starts back on March 14.
Belong To Many is the TAB Sportsbet $2.80 favourite for the Sapphire.
"This could be the last time I ride her because she's going to the Easter Broodmare Sale, so it will be a sad day if I don't get on her again," Buckley said.
"From all reports she is going very well and I know that come race day she will give it absolutely everything she has, she's got a great chance."