Jockey Jordan Childs will do almost anything so as not to jeopardise his relationship with talented galloper Nonconformist.
So much so the Victorian-based jockey is prepared to uproot stumps at home and head to Brisbane for the winter to continue his association with the Caulfield Cup runner-up.
Nonconformist will commence his autumn-winter campaign in the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next month after which he travels to Brisbane to continue his preparation.
Just where trainer Grahame Begg will stable Nonconformist, and potentially Cardinal Gem and Vespertine, is still to be decided.
Begg is hoping for an Eagle Farm base.
Childs said it was a no-brainer for him not to head to Brisbane for the winter after Begg told him what plans he had in place for Nonconformist.
He said he had always wanted to have an extended stay in Brisbane, especially over winter, and Nonconformist was the right horse to do it for.
Childs will be in Brisbane from April 26 and hopes to make it a ‘proper working holiday’.
“My weight gets a bit hard down here during the colder months, so I can’t ride as light, and the warmer weather up there will help,” Childs said.
“It will be like a working holiday, but I’ll still be working hard.”
Childs and his manager will touch base with a number of Queensland trainers in the coming weeks to advice of his availability for rides and trackwork.
“Hopefully trainers are kind to me, and I get some rides,” Childs said.
Begg’s plans for Nonconformist in Queensland include the Group 2 Hollindale Cup (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7, the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 21 and the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.