AT dawn you can catch a glimpse of jockey Tim Phillips at the Moruya Racecourse, wearing his Australian flag-covered skull-cap helmet, taking some of Moruya’s finest thoroughbreds out for through trackwork.
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The Picnic meeting jockey’s five-year affiliation with Moruya Jockey Club, and his success on the track, was recognised by the Eurobodalla Shire Council when it awarded him the shire’s Sports Achievement award at its annual Australia Day awards ceremony at the Moruya Memorial Hall on Monday.
Phillips was rapt to be named the sportsperson of the year in front a full house and now he's able to add the framed award to a growing trophy cabinet.
“There was a good crowd, it was a good buzz and I was able to make a little speech, which was great,” Phillips said.
“I’ve worked hard for it and had to travel a few miles, and ride a few winners to receive it.
“It’s a great honour and a lot of good sportspeople have had this award.”
The 42-year-old Woodlands resident doesn’t ride at his home track, however he’s usually there, if his schedule permits, on race days. He believed the club was going from strength-to-strength.
“The last three meetings have been enormous and the quality of horses has been immaculate,” he said.
“On race-day I help load the barriers to get them out and going.
“We just do it to help the club and everyone binds in and helps each other.”
The former Sydney-based jockey started on the professional circuit in 1990 and clocked up more than 150 winners, but in 2012 he switched to the amateur Picnic racing circuit for good.
“I was professional, then amateur, then professional and then finally amateur again,” he said.
“I won’t go back to the professional circuit because of my weight.
“I can’t do it now, I’m too old.”
The Picnic circuit has horses which race with more than 60kg, generally between 62 and 67kg, and Phillips has found it’s better for his health.
“I can have something to eat and I can’t diet anymore,” he said.
“My body wouldn’t let me do it (go back to professional racing) anymore.”
Phillips, a house painter by trade, rides at tracks from Yass to Moree and drives up to 120,000 kilometres each year to race.
“I’m used to it now and it doesn’t worry me,” he said.
“If I’m riding at some meetings, I can’t do as much track work because I have to travel so far.”
But it’s worth it, as he’s won the NSW Picnic Jockey Premiership three times (2001-02, 2012-13 and 2013-14) and is also on track for a hat-trick with 12 more wins than his nearest rival this season.
This weekend he’ll be racing at Geurie and after a week off it’ll be eight Saturdays straight of racing.
The hoop said his favourite tracks are Fernhill and Bong Bong.
“They’re the pride of Picnic racing and I especially love Bong Bong,” he said.
“I rode four winners in the first four races this year and it would be the pick of the litter.”