Wanderson going in a new direction

By Jordan Gerrans

Well-travelled rider Wanderson D'Avila still feels he has a few good years left in the saddle, but he is already planning for his life after being a jockey. 

The 50-year-old has taken out a dual licence as a trainer and jockey this year and has been campaigning Princess Shanghai since late February. 

The Brazilian native produced his first winner in his new capacity on Tuesday afternoon at Cluden Park when mare Princess Shanghai broke out of maiden grade over 1200 metres in the 13^th attempt of her career.

The daughter of Nicconi has only been in North Queensland under D'Avila’s care for her last four starts after previously being prepared by Joedy Whitaker at Tarampa.

D'Avila has won plenty of feature events in NQ since he arrived in 2010, including the time-honoured Cleveland Bay Handicap at Cluden Park, but he admits Tuesday’s triumph felt a little different. 

“I'm the sort of person that I don't show too much emotion,” D'Avila said.

“A lot of people ask me, why don't you smile?

"I do, but I do it inside, I keep it for myself. 

"But, yes, of course I was happy. It's a new chapter in my life, something different, something new, so of course, I was happy.”

In his new venture, D'Avila is working with four gallopers from his Townsville stable: Power Of Karma, Princess Shanghai, Throwin Shade and Wicked Games.

Wicked Games is yet to start in the north of the Sunshine State and heads to Home Hill on Saturday afternoon in a Ratings Band 0 – 50 Handicap over 1180 metres. 

D'Avila thinks Wicked Games can turn into a country Cups contender in NQ later this year. 

Princess Shanghai, a five-year-old chestnut, ran well in her first two Cluden Park appearances in February and March before breaking through on Tuesday. 

D'Avila sat fourth for much of the trip before presenting the mare at the top of the straight and she ran over the top of the leaders. 

“After her last run, we gave her a freshen-up and took it easy on her until the race day,” the trainer and rider said.

“We did what we had to do and she did what she did. She won pretty easy, she was presentable, to be honest.

“She hit a soft spot at the 300 metre mark and I thought, don't let me down.

“And, then she found another gear and she finished off pretty good. I was very happy with her win.

“I don't know how far she can go, but I believe she'll probably win another couple of races. 

"We can put her in a few lower benchmark and class races and she will be competitive.”

After starting out in South America, D'Avila has ridden across the globe for more than three decades with stops in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. 

He has predominantly competed in Australia for the last 15 years. 

At 50 years of age, D'Avila thinks he has three or four more years of riding in races in him, but he already has an eye on his future in the sport once retirement does roll around. 

“I cannot complain with what I have achieved so far as a jockey,” he said.

“But, I won't be riding forever. So, a couple of years ago, I was starting to think about what I'm going to do when I finish race riding.

“I want to do something; I want to still be around horses. I worked for a lot of different trainers overseas, big trainers with 100 horses.

“Even when I was a jockey, I was always watching what people were doing to learn something different.

“I had this inside me; I want to maybe become a trainer. I've got to start somewhere.

“Hopefully people can send me a few horses and I can train a few winners.”

As well as his maiden win with a dual licence, D'Avila completed a winning double in the saddle on Tuesday afternoon aboard Outsmarted for Home Hill conditioner Darby Amos in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200 metres. 

Amos was impressed with the performance as Outsmarted is only a relative newcomer to his team. 

“He is a good horse,” Amos said.

“It was good to get the job done and we are looking forward to going forward with him.”

Outsmarted was previously prepared by Jake Capewell and was only having his third run for the Amos camp.