Jordan Mallyon set for new career move after Brisbane stint

By Jordan Gerrans

Well-travelled hoop Jordan Mallyon will use one comeback ride at Warwick’s Allman Park on Saturday to springboard his career back into Asian racing. 

The 32-year-old has been away from race riding for the best part of the last two years and has been working at Matthew Hoysted’s stable in Brisbane.

Mallyon has still been present at the races in the Sunshine State, often taking horses to provincial and country meetings as Hoysted’s foreman and race day representative. 

He has been back in the saddle at the trials in recent weeks around South East Queensland and took his first race ride back on Saturday since December of 2023. 

However, Mallyon’s return to the Queensland riding ranks is likely to be short-lived.

He is in the final stages of being approved to return to Malayasia to take up a riding contract.

“I have had the break from riding, which has been great, but I have missed it a bit,” Mallyon said on Wednesday.

“I have a lot of connections and friends from over there in Malayasia.

“I eventually got the bug back and I got my trial ticket back to ride in them.

“As soon as I started to do some trials, I really started to miss it and thought I should give it another shot. 

“I thought I would silly not to have another go at my age and only being 57kg.”

Following the closure of racing in Singapore around a year ago, jurisdictions such as Malaysia and South Korea have been the big beneficiaries with horses and staff moving to the area to enhance the local industry.

Mallyon previously had a stint in the South East Asian country between 2017 to 2019 and is looking forward to getting back. 

He took one ride at Warwick’s Allman Park on Saturday, piloting Ohh Errol for Deagon’s Jack Bruce in the Maiden Plate over 1350 metres. 

Ohh Errol finished a touch over five lengths behind the winner. 

Regardless of the result, the returning hoop enjoyed his experience being back doing what he loves and has since ridden in Tuesday's Sunshine Coast trials as he prepares to head overseas. 

“I loved it,” he said of Saturday's ride. 

“I pulled up a bit flat at about the 100 metre mark, I needed a tongue-tie on (laughs).

“It was really good, I loved it.

“I pulled up not too bad and I am extremely excited to get back into it.

"It is going to be a great opportunity for me to ride in a place that is really up and coming at the moment.”

The Hoysted camp have had a nice start to the 2025-26 season, claiming six races in town so far, while also being placed just outside of the top 10 in the statewide tally. 

The recently married Mallyon says he has thoroughly enjoyed working for his long-time close mate Hoysted.

“I have worked on this side of the fence for the last year-and-a-half and I have loved working with Matty as we have been close mates since we were 12 years old,” Mallyon said.

“I probably do not find myself having much of a passion of the training side of it all at my age.

“It might be something that I look at in the future when I am a bit older.

“I have got great enjoyment to watch Matty be so successful and I have taken great pride in helping him out.”

Before stepping away from riding in late 2023, Mallyon had ridden extensively across the country and competed in numerous black-type events.