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Callaway aiming to sign off on a riding high
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • March 25th, 2026 1:20 pm
Closing in on 300 wins, Lee Callaway prepares to step away from the saddle and focus on training | Photo: Race Images South
Waikouaiti-based horseman Lee Callaway is close to calling time on his career as a jockey.
He is one away from 300 wins in the saddle and when he brings up his triple century, which includes four Group or Listed victories, will step aside to concentrate on his training operation.
“It’s too hard to focus on training and riding at the same time, I’ve got away with it for the last couple of years but it’s very challenging to do,” the 41-year-old said.
“When I get to 300, I’ll be retiring and I’ll find one more meeting after that where I’ll maybe just have one or two rides to let people know that it’s my last day.”
Callaway will have one opportunity at Wingatui on Friday to bring up his personal milestone when he partners Nikki White’s Jot Down in the Property Brokers – Ray Kean Maiden (1200m).
“It’s been a bit disappointing, I think they’re going to put the hood on and want me to send it forward in the race and see if it can keep going,” Callaway said.
He will also have five of his stable members in action at the meeting with two of the, Claudius Maximus and The Good Shepherd, in the KB Contractors Handicap (1400m) and will monitor their performances from the sideline.
“When I’m training them, it doesn’t affect me when I’m out there, but I do prefer to put someone else on,” Callaway said.
Akshay Balloo will take the reins on Claudius Maximus, who won two on the bounce before finishing seventh at Riccarton where he was caught four wide from an outside gate.
“He got stuck in no man’s land and was running on again. We went over him and did a bit of massage work and he seems really well,” Callaway said.
“I thought the Good3 might have got to him a bit because I don’t think he’s completely happy on a rock-hard track, but he’s good.
“He’s been going very well and that race the other day was a good field, the winner (Iron Hawk) had won a couple in Australia and the second horse (Pizarro) had won its last three in a row.”
Callaway leaned toward Claudius Maximus as his best chance but isn’t under-estimating The Good Shepherd.
“He’s probably the better of the two, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the other one ran very well,” he said.
“He didn’t go too bad a race the other day with visor blinkers on, he didn’t have that sprint at the end and is probably looking for 1400m now.”
Daniel Bothamley rode The Good Shepherd last time out at Ashburton and will retain the ride.
Callaway will also be double-handed in the Speights Handicap (1400m) with the in-form Mininja Girl (Brandon May) and Unusual Affair (Terry Moseley) to go head-to-head.
“Mininja Girl has been going well and over the distance should be a good chance and Unusual Affair had a wide draw last time and had to drop back to last, but was finding the line well,” he said.
Moseley will also partner The Hares Ears in the Positive Signs + Print Maiden (1400m) off the back of an improved effort for fifth at Riverton.
