Episode 332: Darren Gauci

It’s always a delight to chat with Darren Gauci who won a million friends during his magnificent riding career. He begins by looking back on his twilight years in the saddle when opportunities were diminishing.

Darren will long remember the send off he was accorded at Caulfield in Feb 2017. He responded in the best possible way by riding a winner. Emotions ran high through the day.

He talks of his current routine as a jockey mentor for Racing Victoria, and the services available to up and coming young riders.

Darren talks of the natural instinct some hopefuls have for riding. He mentions one modern day champion who didn’t have that instinct.

The former champion rider looks back on early wins and his first Group 1 at eighteen years of age. He rated the horse very highly.

Darren remembers the surprise he got when an enthusiastic fan club started to appear at Melbourne race meetings. He reflects on the wisdom of his master Frank King who devised a simple way to keep his feet on the ground.

Darren looks back on his invitation to appear on the top rating television show Young Talent Time. He actually sat on a horse in the Ch 10 studio. He also met his future wife Karen who was a regular on the famous programme.

He talks of Karen’s journey in the racing world, and their wonderful family of four.

Darren looks back on two separate stints in Hong Kong, one brief the other long term. He formed happy associations with two champion trainers. 

He talks of his disappointment in failing to ride a Melbourne Cup winner and looks back on three seconds in the great race. 

“The Gauch” pays tribute to a select group of champions he got to ride including Super Impose, Lohnro, Octagonal, El Segundo and Shaftesbury Avenue. He makes a surprise admission about his association with Octagonal.

He may surprise you when he acknowledges the best two year old he ever rode.

Darren makes mention of his biography “The Gauch” lovingly crafted by Kristen Manning three years ago. There are still copies available. It’s a wonderful record of an amazing career.

We could have talked about many more career highlights but time caught up. Darren closes with news of an impending event in the Gauci family.