Evergreen gelding Bandersnatch will rack up a half-century of starts at Rosehill.
Jockey valet Chris Barrett will slip on a different hat for the running of the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill when the horse he part-owns, Bandersnatch, bids to tip his prizemoney earnings over $1.4 million.
A former Group 1-winning jockey, Barrett is a regular on Sydney race days where he looks after the gear for champion hoop James Mcdonald, along with fellow top riders Tommy Berry, Tyler Schiller and Rachel King.
It is a role he has been performing for more than a decade and while he is now semi-retired, one he still takes very seriously.
"I take all their gear home. They just walk in and walk out," Barrett said.
"I wash all their silks and tops and have it for the next meeting….I bring it to the races, set it all up.
"I also get their saddles ready for the next race, and if they need the same saddle again, I'll tidy it up as the day goes on."
Now semi-retired, Barrett has whittled down his race day responsibilities to his four main clients, but still assists other riders on occasion.
Josh Parr is among those he has helped in the past, and it is Parr who has the task of getting Bandersnatch first across the line in Saturday's Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m).
If successful, Barrett admits he might have to give Parr some special attention.
"I'll have to if he wins," Barrett quipped.
"The horse has been a great money-spinner. He has won $1.2 million.
"He will run well on Saturday, he'll roll forward and he loves 1500 at Rosehill, that's his pet distance."
Bandersnatch will be lining up for his 50th start on Saturday and has had support in early markets, firming from $26 into $14.
However, even if he wins, it won't be Barrett's biggest accomplishment in racing.
Along with capturing the 1988 South Australian Derby on Celtic Spirit, Barrett rates his two Melbourne Cup experiences as highlights of his riding career.
"My biggest moment would be riding in the Melbourne Cup. I rode in a couple, that's the biggest thrill for any jockey," he said.
"The second time I rode a horse called Rocky Ruler, it led for most of the way in the 1984 Cup. I was in front and then there came Black Knight at the furlong past me, but we ran sixth."
Bandersnatch is prepared by Hawkes Racing and co-trainer Michael Hawkes echoed Barrett's sentiments that the horse would be competitive.
"He's getting a bit older and those horses find it a bit harder with the younger horses coming through, but he has been a good bread-and-butter horse," Hawkes said.
"He's earned a lot of prizemoney and he's been thereabouts so hopefully he can be on Saturday."
