The Gratz Vella trained Azzucca won its maiden with some ease, here it is pictured with Billy aboard when he rode it to a second in Canberra. Bradley Photography.
Gundagai’s own Billy Owen delivered a commanding riding clinic at Wagga Wagga on Monday, September 29, 2025, transforming the afternoon into a personal showcase of skill and consistency. Owen’s incredible haul of three winners and two second-place finishes across eight rides cemented his status as the Riverina’s rider of the moment, boasting a stunning 83% strike rate for placing. His five successful rides delivered over $50,000 in combined prize money back to connections.
The Winning Treble: Versatility Across the Distances
Owen’s success was spread across the card and varied distances, securing victories for three different stables—Gratz Vella, Doug Gorrel, and Todd Smart—highlighting the wide-ranging trust placed in his abilities by regional trainers:
Azzucca (Race 3) for Gratz Vella
The treble kicked off in the highly competitive $30,000 Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1400m) (Race 3). Aboard the Gratz Vella-trained Azzucca, Owen executed a perfectly timed, patient ride. The horse settled mid-field before Owen urged a sustained run in the straight, getting up in the shadow of the post for a breakthrough win. Trainer Vella was thrilled with the performance: “Azzucca is a horse we’ve always had a good opinion of. Billy gave him a beautiful, patient ride, and he just finished too strongly. It’s a great result for the stable and the owners to get that maiden win out of the way.”
Mr Tadashi (Race 5) for Doug Gorrel
The middle leg came swiftly in the $27,000 Wagga Workwear Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) (Race 5). Partnering the Doug Gorrel-trained Mr Tadashi, Owen demonstrated tactical genius from the gates, positioning the horse ideally before unleashing a decisive run. The gelding responded to Owen’s urgency, surging away from his rivals late to secure a strong victory over 1200m. Gorrel was quick to praise the jockey: “Tadashi can be a tricky ride, but Billy knows him well. He put him in a perfect spot and really finished off the race with purpose. That was a big effort, and we’re delighted to get the win for the owners.”
Off The Press (Race 7) for Todd Smart
Owen completed the treble in the feature $27,000 Raine & Horne Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m) (Race 7) aboard the speedy Todd Smart-trained Off The Press. In the high-pressure sprint, Owen navigated traffic from a tricky gate and extracted a tough, determined finish from the gelding right on the line. The win was a testament to both the horse’s tenacity and Owen’s ability to maximise a short-course run. With little to no whipping by Owen, Off the Press bolted in winning by three lengths.
Two Photo-Finish Seconds Complete the Haul
Further underscoring his brilliant day, Owen delivered two narrowly defeated seconds, hinting at what could have been a five-timer:
• Haz Styles (Race 2) for trainer Scott Collings finished a strong 2nd in the Maiden Plate over 1200m, narrowly missing victory by just 0.2 lengths. Owen had positioned the runner perfectly, but was just unable to reel in the leader in the final bounds.
• Gold Tracker (Race 8) for trainer Richard Butler finished a gallant 2nd in the final event of the day, the Triple Threat Riverina Bm58 (1000m). The official margin was only a Short Half Head, denying Owen a fourth win in a heart-stopping photo finish and securing the impressive five-place haul.
His other rides included Lost Ya Sock (7th, Race 1) and Sunroe (8th, Race 4).
The Final Word on a Monumental Day “Billy Owen was simply the star of the show at Wagga yesterday,” confirmed a local racing analyst. “To secure three wins for three different trainers—Gratz Vella, Doug Gorrel, and Todd Smart—and back that up with two seconds, including a photo-finish loss, highlights his phenomenal form. His ability to adapt and deliver peak performance on different horses across different classes is why he is such a sought-after jockey in the region and one of the best in NSW racing right now.”
This memorable Monday performance significantly boosted Owen’s season statistics and confirmed his position as a dominant force heading into the busy Spring Carnival schedule.
– Tully Potts
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