If Craig Staples happens to ride the winner of Saturday’s Group 2 Lawn Pride Australia-Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot-and there’s a good chance he can, he will thank Paul Jordan for the opportunity.
Staples and Jordan are not just a jockey and trainer partnership, they are so much more than that, they’re great mates who have formed a tight bond over many years of friendship.
Jordan is the reason why Staples hasn’t given up riding all together, it’s a part time role at present after his ascension to executive chairman of the Australian Jockeys Association.
Staples planned on devoting all his energies on being Australia’s jockey boss but was talked out of it by Jordan who suggested he stick around and be a part a promising yearling.
The exciting talent Jordan refers to is Castle Road, a two-year-old stacked with raw ability and fast pace, who is giving every indication of living up to his high expectations.
After a rocky start to their relationship, Staples is an ardent admirer of Castle Road and thinks he can reach the pinnacle in Perth’s grand final race for juveniles.
27 years after winning his first Karrakatta Plate on Bomber Bill, Staples genuinely thinks he has a big chance of winning his second with Castle Road.
“Paul is the only reason I’m riding still,” Staples said to Tracing WA.
“I obviously do a lot for the jockey's association and that’s my main role.
“I really enjoy riding for Paul; he’s been my main trainer for a while now.
“It would be really thrilling to ride a winner for virtually one of my best friends.
“Early days this horse he bumped me off and hurt me pretty bad.
“I was contemplating giving it up but Paul talked me around.
“He told me, ‘You’ll be right, son.’
“He said I think we’ve got a good one.”
Castle Road was a good one and a touch more last start when he gave an electrifying display to win the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m) by 3 ¼ lengths, leading from barrier to post.
By leading WA sire Safeguard, Staples went straight to the front on Castle Road and stayed there throughout, coasting to the line and running his rivals ragged.
Castle Road’s best asset is his dazzling gate speed, used to great effect in winning three races from five starts, but Staples says it can also be his undoing.
“He runs a little bit too hard too early,” Staples said.
“If he actually starts relaxing, he will go to the next level.
“I’m waiting for him to get used to race days because he still gets stressed out.
“He’s a bit highly strung and can be hard to handle.
“The day the penny drops he’ll be even better.”
A sign that the precocious talent was seeing the light of day and turning things around came at track work.
“My wife (Lisa Staples) rides him in work, and she couldn’t be happier with him this morning (Tuesday),” Staples said.
“She said he was quite nice to ride, very relaxed, which is unlike him.
“She knows him best and was pretty thrilled with the way he went around the track.”
Thrilled was also the way Staples reacted to Castle Road’s Karrakatta Plate barrier draw.
“Very happy,” Staples said.
“Thrilled with four, it’s my favourite barrier.”
From the gate, Staples anticipates Castle Road to hit the ground running, but unlike the Perth Stakes, when rivals couldn’t get close to him, he expects a stiffer challenge for the lead.
“He still is going to lead and probably by a bit, but I wouldn’t say they will let me get away so far this time,” Staples said.
“They will probably be a bit more worried and be right on my hammer.
“He does things early that should bring him undone, but if he starts racing and doing things right, he will be next level.”
Castle Road is on the third line of Tabtouch betting at $7.50, behind Yes Queen ($2.40) and Talkanco ($5.50).
Julio Santarelli