Back in October 2022 Donovan had a winner in his first meeting in Australia (via Meta)
Donovan Dillon, who has been residing in Australia since mid-2022 where he has worked for the famous Arrowfield Stud, has been sidelined for a while after a horse kicked him in the thigh and tore the muscle off the bone.
However, in a couple of months time he and his wife Tayla will be able to apply for residency visas and once that happens he intends becoming a seven-day a week jockey with big ambitions.
Donovan said, “It has been a crazy ride since we’ve been here. I’m not racing as much as I used to, small yard but massive name that we are behind (Arrowfield Stud). We have a couple of months left before we can apply for permanent residency and once that happens I think things open up a lot more and we will have a lot more freedom. I will obviously still work for Arrowfield in the mornings, but I will be looking to ride in races seven times a week. I’m trying to get my weight right down to a natural 54 to 55kg so I can freelance and race all day everyday. I have put it in my sights that I want to go for the title in 2024/2025. I do think I can accomplish that with the racing I’ve had here already.”
In his first season over there in 2022/2023 Donovan had 9 wins at a strike rate of 33.3% and he had a place strike rate of 70.4%. No wonder he has high ambitions!
He continued, “I do feel that as a South African professional jockey I’ve got the upper hand.”
Donovan explained the high professionalism of SA jockeys coming out of the famous SA Jockeys Academy and their accompanying ability to read races.
He continued, “I also feel I want it that much more. I am grateful for these last two years because it has made me a lot more hungrier in my career.”
He said about the injury, “It was pretty uncomfortable for a while, but my rehabilitation has been smooth sailing so far.
He has been working for the famous Arrowfield Stud since he arrived in New South Wales in Australia.
Arrowfield is one of the world’s leading stud farms, famous as the launch-pad for breed-shaper Danehill, the home of Champion Sires Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur, Not A Single Doubt & Snitzel, the source of 81 Group 1 winners and the vendor of 77 million-dollars worth of yearlings since 2001.
Donovan has been race-riding for the small yard of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.
Paul is the son of John Messara, the founder of Arrowfield.
Donovan’s wife Tayla works for a neighboring stud farm called Ridgmont, which is not related in anyway to the South African Ridgemont. She is part of the broodmare team there.
