A Rosehill treble by Braith Nock hits a milestone and boosts dual premiership aspirations for the star apprentice
Star apprentice Braith Nock remains on target to claim two coveted premierships after his first city treble gave him a century of wins for the season at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Nock combined with the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable to win on Don't Forget Jack in the Racing and Sports Handicap (1400m) and Mickey's Medal in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m).
This complemented an earlier win on the Matthew Dale -trained Super Norwest in the TAB Highway (1400m).
Nock's treble took him to 33 metropolitan winners and 98 on NSW tracks. He's also ridden two Queensland winners ensuring the apprentice can 'raise the bat' for 100 winners for the season for the first time in his career.
With about six weeks of the season remaining, Nock is in the box seat to claim the Sydney apprentices title as he now has a nine-win buffer over nearest rival Molly Bourke.
Nock's breakout season also has him second in the NSW premiership, just two behind Ash Morgan.
'It's in reach, definitely,'' Nock said of the NSW premiership.
'I've got a week's suspension coming up soon (he is back next Saturday) which gives that away a bit.
'Ash is getting a few good opportunities so it's going to be hard to run him down.
'But the apprentices title is looking good. We will try to keep the momentum rolling into next Saturday.'
Don't Forget Jack ($6.50), trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, finished strongly to run down early leader Tasoraay ($3.70) to win by a long neck with Hell To Pay ($3.20 favourite) nearly a length away third.
Nock said the genuine race tempo set by Tasoraay suited Don't Forget Jack.
Don't Forget Jack gets back to form with the perfect run at Rosehill! ðŸ'� @NockBraith | @ANeashamRacing pic.twitter.com/T3w9U1C9UM
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025
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'He was very comfortable where we were, just flowing,'' he said.
'We were able to get out and he was a little bit green still, when you let him go he gets a bit wobbly.
'I thought he was tough late. He felt like he was waiting for something once he got there but once I really grabbed him a bit more, he gave.'
Don't Forget Jack improved his record to four wins from just eight starts and bounced back from an indifferent run at Rosehill two weeks ago.
'Just nothing went right last start,'' Megan O'Leary said.
'It was obviously his first start here (Rosehill) and he got a bit worked up before the race.
'It was great to see him handle it a bit better today and get back to winning ways.''
O'Leary praised Nock for what she described as a 'brilliant ride'.
'Obviously it was a bit of a sticky draw and there was a bit more early pace than it looked on paper,'' she said.
'But it was a nice, patient ride by Braith and the horse came on well. He enjoys softer tracks and as long as the rain stays around he will be winning again.''
Nock then combined with the Archibald stable again to partner the consistent Mickey's Medal ($3.10 favourite) to a determined half length win over a very game Northern Eyes ($10) with Little Cointreau ($3.90) one-and-quarter lengths away third.
ðŸ�… Mickey's Medal gets more gold, storming home to win at Rosehill for @ANeashamRacing! @NockBraith gets a treble halfway through the card! ðŸ'Œ pic.twitter.com/55CtWdJM3g
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025
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It was almost a case of 'rinse and repeat' for Nock who timed his finishing run to perfection on Mickey's Medal, just as he did on stablemate Don't Forget Jack.
'He was really good. It was quite a good early tempo and he really came under me mid-race,'' Nock said.
'I didn't want to get too close to the leaders' heels, I wanted the option to angle out and get to the outside.
'I had to go for him a little earlier than I would have liked but he was quite tough. I think he thinks about it a bit when he gets there but I just kept at him and he kept going.'
Nock and Mickey's Medal are both on a form surge this winter.
'It was another brilliant ride by Braith and Mickey's Medal really put the second horse away,'' O'Leary said.
'The horse is also in the most brilliant form at the minute, he is doing so well at this distance so why should we stop now.''
Sky Thoroughbred Central's Corey Brown then interviewed Nock after Mickey's Medal's win and asked the young apprentice how he was coping with riding favourites at a Sydney Saturday meeting.
'It's all good – the pressure, that's what you live for,'' Nock said.
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