Episode 510: Vlad Duric

Following in the footsteps of jockeys like Jeff Lloyd, Robbie Fradd and Larry Cassidy, Vlad Duric has chosen Brisbane as home base for the latter years of his riding career. Vlad arrived in Queensland early last year after a wonderfully successful six years in Singapore where he won four local jockey’s premierships and a host of feature races. A Doomben treble got him away to a flying start and the winners have continued to flow. The veteran rider says his passion for race riding hasn’t diminished. Vlad talks about the great support he’s received from Brisbane trainers since arriving in Queensland. He talks about a quartet of stakes wins to come his way including the Gr 2 Victory Stakes on talented galloper Antino. Vlad says he decided on a brief stint in his native Victoria last August  to coincide with the beginning of daughter Sage’s riding career. The jockey was surprised and delighted to pick up rides from old friends. To ride a couple of Gippsland winners was a bonus. Vlad acknowledges the talents of his 22 year old daughter, and brings us up to date on the career direction taken by Sage’s sisters Lily and Audrey. He pays tribute to his wife Storm, herself a former jockey who rode ten winners in a brief career. Vlad reveals the European origins of his first and second names and reflects on the support he was given by hard working parents Steve And Elina when he opted for a riding career.  He looks back on his apprenticeship to Cranbourne trainer Alan Williams and the enduring friendship he formed with Alan’s son Craig. The forty seven year old looks back on the milestone achievements of his early career- first winner, first city winner and initial Gr 1 success. Vlad fondly remembers Gr 1 winner Bon Hoffa as the first high quality horse he got to ride. He sings the praises of Bon Hoffa’s trainer Wendy Kelly. Appropriately Vlad Duric pays a lengthy tribute to Master O’Reilly, a horse he rode in 30 races and the horse to take him to racing’s biggest stage with a Caulfield Cup win in 2007. There are some interesting sidelights to the Master O’Reilly story, especially the drama in the barriers before the running of the Caulfield Cup.   Vlad remembers his first trip to Singapore in 2009 and the flying start he gained on brilliant three year old Gingerbread Man. He won 51 races in his first season.    He looks back on a return to Victoria and his association with the very talented horse Mourinho. He won the Gr 1 Underwood Stakes on Mourinho plus three other Gr 2 races.   Vlad comprehensively covers his return to Singapore and a six year stay that brought him  four jockeys premierships and many feature races. He looks back on the outstanding horses and horsemen who made it all possible.   There were a handful of health related low points in the latter stages of his time in Singapore. He says he was stopped in his tracks on three occasions.   Vlad Duric has been a popular and well respected jockey for more than three decades. He shares his story with us in a most entertaining way.