Chris Bryen's gratitude to supporters in comeback bid

By Jordan Gerrans

When hoop Chris Bryen makes his comeback to race riding on Monday at Longreach, he will have all those that supported him behind the scenes in recent years at the front of his mind. 

The long-time bush jockey stepped away from race riding in June of 2020. 

In the years since, he has battled with several challenges in his personal life, which he admits could have led him down a much different path to the one he is currently on.

He has still been involved in racing to a capacity, spending some time riding trackwork, behind the barriers at race meetings as well as working on the ground at racing stables. 

During Bryen’s troubled times in recent years, he has been backed by Longreach trainers Mark Oates and Richard Simpson as well as local industry figure Julie Eggerling.

“When I gave away riding, things changed in my personal life and it was just hard,” he reflects.

“I just went down a really dark path. Now, with a lot of help from Mark, Richard and Julie, they have really got me back working with the horses. They got me in love with it again.

“I just thought I’d give it another go, so it is onwards and upwards with life. I was going through a bad spot in life and if it wasn't for them, I would be still on a bad path.

“They have been my rock and they've worked really hard with me at times. I've let them down at times, but they never wavered.

“They're always there to pick me back up and cheer me on again.”

The 49-year-old will be a welcome addition to the Central West riding ranks when he makes his official return on Monday.

He completed his last lot of trials to the satisfaction of the stewards recently to have his comeback stamped with approval.

The jockey stocks in the area have been boosted in recent weeks by the addition of fellow veteran hoop Michael Heagney.

While Bryen has been away from the caper in recent years, he is no slouch in the saddle.

He has more than 230 winners to his name after debuting back in 2000. 

On top of his own personal demons, Bryen always battled with his weight in the lead up to his eventual decision to step away from race riding back in the middle of 2020.

To stay connected to the caper, he worked behind the barriers at tracks around the Roma area as well as across the Central West region. 

Bryen hails from New South Wales and got his start in the game by riding trackwork for Brett Cavanough, who claimed the Country Championships Final with Chidiac on Saturday in Sydney.

Cavanough sent the aspiring rider to Roma in regional Queensland to work for former leading bush horseman Craig Smith and he never looked back.

He eventually headed back to Cavanough for a period to ride at a provincial level in the southern states.

“I always had the ability, I just didn't have the desire and drive,” he reflects.

“I only ever wanted to just ride in a race. I only ever really did it just for the love of the horses and that was about it.”

In his return on Monday, which will be run as a TAB meeting, Bryen will partner Highground for Oates in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1000 metres.

He is hopeful of picking up one or two more bookings, as well.

The returning rider is keen to ease into his comeback and manage his weight down slowly.

He has been busy riding trackwork for Oates and Simpson in recent weeks to get his weight in the right condition to get back to the races.

“I'm excited,” he said.

“I can't wait to get there, it'll be good to be back. That's probably the biggest thing, the horses. They have always been probably the one thing in my life that always made me happy.

“To get back to that just to move forward in life and just have happiness, that's the main goal.”

Bryen is hopeful of getting his weight down to 59kg in the coming weeks.

Also, on Monday's Longreach Jockey Club, the Kate Deane Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate will be held to celebrate the life of the late respected racing identity.