Jarrod back in the winning house

By Jordan Gerrans

A rewarding stint riding trackwork at Eagle Farm with Kelly Schweida has spurred returning hoop Jarrod Woodhouse to a winning comeback to race riding. 

The 31-year-old recorded his first victory in nearly two years at Esk on Saturday when he lifted Margot's Star to a big win to leap out of maiden company for Ipswich horseman Wayne O'Connell.

Woodhouse’s last winner was in January of 2024 at Gunnedah.

The well-travelled hoop has battled with his weight over the last few years as he did not ride in a race between early February of last year and April of 2025.

He only took the three engagements in April before being off the scene again until this month. 

Woodhouse says riding work in Brisbane – predominantly for Schweida – as well as Lindsay Gough and Bryan Dais has been a blessing for his weight problems. 

“After moving back to Queensland following some weight issues down south in the cold, my weight has been much better up here,” Woodhouse said.

“Riding a lot of work for Kelly has helped my weight come down a lot lately.

“I was up at 64kg when I moved up and I rode 56kg on Melbourne Cup day.

“I didn’t struggle to ride 56kg the other day, I felt good within myself.

“It is looking more positive and easier to ride up here with the heat. It is good to be back.”

Weight has been something the rider has always battled with dating back to his days on the Gold Coast as an apprentice to Mel Eggleston.

The hoop has been able to ride with luck when he had his weight under control, highlighted by the 2016-17 campaign where he rode 21 winners at 10.6%. 

After a stint of just riding trackwork, he said the time felt right to have a dip at competing in races again.       

“I am over 30 now and I thought if I don’t work on it now, I probably never will,” Woodhouse said.

“I made the decision and once my weight was ok, I thought it was better now than never.”

Woodhouse says the Schweida yard is a great stable to work for at Eagle Farm. 

The Dais camp have also been in prolific form, collecting two city winners in recent weeks. 

Woodhouse was glad to pick up a few rides from the O'Connell stable as he knew him from his early days riding on the Gold Coast. 

Margot's Star was O'Connell’s second victory as a trainer after he recently took out a dual licence.

The four-year-old mare won a 1460 metre maiden to deliver Woodhouse his comeback triumph. 

Margot's Star came from well back in the field to storm over the top of the leading pair. 

“The horse went well to come from last,” Woodhouse said.

“Horses coming from last at Esk to win are few and far between. The horse went really well.”

Following the win, Woodhouse has been rewarded with more rides for the O'Connell barn when they travel horses to Inverell and Beaudesert later this month.