Mr Cameron Hillhouse

Hillhouse has been in the saddle since 2021, which means he is still very much in the learning phase of the job. Riding racehorses at speed, in traffic, under pressure, is one of the hardest skills in sport to acquire, and most jockeys take years before the winners start to come with any regularity. Six rides in a year is a modest book of work, which suggests he is picking up opportunities where he can rather than operating as a stable jockey with a steady supply of fancied runners.

The repeated partnership with Bondi Man is the most interesting detail here. Four races together without a win could reflect bad luck, tough competition, or simply a horse that has not yet found its best form. Whatever the reason, the fact that Hillhouse keeps getting the call to ride the same horse suggests someone in the team believes in what he brings — patience, feel, or simply an understanding of that particular animal. That kind of loyalty is worth something in a sport where jockeys can be swapped out after a single disappointing run.

At four years in, the honest assessment is that Hillhouse is still building. The winners will matter less right now than the experience being accumulated with every ride.