You know those stories that just grab your heart and refuse to let go? The ones where a bloke who moved halfway across the world, with nothing but a dream and a saddle, suddenly finds himself on the verge of something legendary? That’s Will Gordon right now. And let me tell you — the whole of Victoria is watching.
It’s not every day you see a jockey turn into a movement. But that’s exactly what’s happening with this 28-year-old English export. He came here, worked his backside off, ate humble pie more times than I can count, and now? He’s just nine wins away from the magic number — 100 winners in a single Australian season. And trust me, in a sport where luck and disaster are separated by a hair’s breadth, that’s not just a stat. That’s a monument.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Let’s get the obvious out of the way — 91 winners. That’s insane. If you’d told Will a couple of years ago that he’d be breathing down the neck of the country premiership leaders, he probably would’ve laughed and offered you a beer. Back in the 2021/22 season, his personal best was 68. A solid, respectable number. But 91? That’s a whole different stratosphere.
And here’s the kicker — he’s done this while riding both flat and jumps. Do you have any idea how hard that is? Imagine being a sprinter and a marathon runner at the same time. It takes a freak of nature, or someone with insane discipline. Gordon does triathlons for fun (yes, fun) just to keep that weight down and that engine running. The bloke is literally built different.
— Will Gordon, after his Werribee double.
From Devon Downs to Down Under
To really get this story, you have to go back. Will didn’t grow up with a silver horseshoe in his mouth. He started as an amateur back in the south-west of England, riding in point-to-points where the fences are stiff and the prize money is barely enough for a fish and chips dinner. He took a punt, moved to New Zealand, then hopped over to Australia. Talk about a leap of faith.
Those early years were brutal. He wasn’t the golden boy. He was the “import” who had to prove himself every single ride. Trainers didn’t hand him the good horses — he had to claw his way up. And claw he did. He learned the Aussie tracks, the quirky rail positions, the tempo of our races. It took years of sweat, early mornings, and more than a few gut-wrenching falls.
Speaking of falls — remember that sickening tumble at the Warrnambool May carnival? The one that made everyone in the stands hold their breath? It was a nasty one. But what does he do? He dusts himself off, gets back on, and wins a feature race the next week. That’s not just toughness. That’s bloody-minded stubbornness. And I love it.
The Horses That Are Carrying Him to Glory
You don’t get to 91 wins without some equine heroes. The partnership with Affluential has been box-office. Four wins in a row? That’s the kind of run that makes trainers weep with joy. And let’s not forget Bell Ex One — the horse that gave him that narrow, heart-stopping loss in the Grand Annual, only to come back and blitz the Australian Steeplechase. When Will crossed the line that day, you could see the relief, the pure, raw emotion. It wasn’t a jockey celebrating; it was a man getting his revenge on the racing gods.
And then there’s the flat rides. At Horsham, he bagged a treble that had punters screaming. At Sandown, he made it look easy. The kid is riding with a confidence that is infectious. Every time he gets a leg up, you get the feeling something special is about to happen.
What the Trainers Are Saying
I caught up with a few of the trainers who have been putting Gordon on their best stock, and the consensus is unanimous. Andrew Bobbin, who trains Bell Ex One, told me, “Will doesn’t just ride the horse; he feels it. He knows when to push and when to hold back. That’s a gift you can’t teach.” Meanwhile, John Leek Jr., the man behind Affluential, couldn’t stop grinning when I mentioned Will’s name. “He’s the first one at the stables and the last one to leave. His work ethic is contagious. The other jockeys are taking notes.”
That’s the thing about Will — he’s not just winning races; he’s earning the respect of the hardest people to impress in the industry: the trainers who put their livelihoods on the line every time they saddle up a horse.
The Tactical Genius We’re Finally Seeing
There’s been a noticeable shift in Gordon’s race-craft this season. Earlier in his career, he relied heavily on raw speed and agility. Now? He’s a chess player. He studies replays obsessively. He knows the pace maps of every track in Victoria. At Caulfield the other week, I saw him take a horse back to last place, sit perfectly still for 800 meters, and then unleash a sprint that left the rest of the field looking like they were stuck in mud. That’s not just riding; that’s art.
His ability to handle wet tracks has also improved tenfold. Australian tracks can be unpredictable, especially during the winter carnival. But Gordon has adapted his style — sitting deeper, using his strength to balance the horse through the slop. It’s those subtle adjustments that turn fourth-place finishes into victories.
The Pressure and the Grind
I can tell you what’s not going through his head — arrogance. If you meet Will, he’s grounded. He knows the racing game is a fickle mistress. One day you’re the hero, the next day you’re the villain. But there’s a quiet fire in his eyes these days. He’s got that look — the look of a man who knows he belongs.
He’s 28. He’s hitting his prime. And he’s in the shape of his life. Those triathlons aren’t just for show — they’ve carved him into a lean, mean, race-fit machine. At a time when weight battles are ending careers, Gordon is actually getting stronger.
But let’s be real — the pressure is mounting. Every race meeting, the cameras find him. The commentators talk about “the chase for 100.” The punters are piling on. It’s the kind of pressure that has broken stronger men. But this bloke? He seems to thrive on it. He’s the calm in the middle of the storm.
A Look at the History Books
To put this chase into perspective, you have to look at the recent history of Victorian racing. It’s been a hot minute since a jockey cracked the century mark in a single season. The last time it happened with this kind of momentum was when the likes of Patrick Payne and Brad Rawiller were dominating the jumps circuit. But doing it across both codes? That’s rarefied air. If Will gets there, he won’t just be in the record books; he’ll be rewriting a whole chapter of them.
And it’s not just about the wins. It’s the places, the seconds, the close calls. He has 72 seconds and 76 thirds this season. That’s a staggering number of podium finishes. It tells you that even when he doesn’t win, he’s right there, nipping at the heels of the victor. Consistency at that level is what separates the good jockeys from the great ones.
The Fans Are Buying In
If you’ve been to a Victorian racetrack lately, you can feel the buzz. The punters are wearing “Team Gordon” hats. The kids are lining up for his autograph. There’s a connection there that you don’t often see in racing, where the horse usually takes all the glory. Will has become the people’s champion — the bloke who just refuses to give up.
I spoke to a group of regulars at Flemington last Saturday, and one old-timer, Ray, put it best: “He rides like he’s got nothing to lose, but he’s fighting like he’s got everything to gain. You can’t fake that passion.” And Ray’s been watching races for 50 years. That kind of endorsement is hard to come by.
So, Can He Actually Do It?
If you’re asking me — absolutely. With the rides he’s getting, the form he’s in, and the sheer momentum he’s carrying, those last nine wins are going to fall like dominoes. It might happen at Flemington. It might happen at a midweek meeting at Moe. But it will happen. And when it does, I bet he’ll just give that quiet, knowing smile and say, “Onto the next one.”
Because that’s who Will Gordon is. He’s not chasing the limelight. He’s chasing the finish line. And right now, nobody is catching him.
The Final Verdict
Whether he gets it this weekend or next, one thing is certain — Will Gordon is the story of the season. He’s not just a jockey anymore. He’s the bloke who crossed an ocean, broke his body, and kept coming back for more. He’s the underdog who turned into the top dog. And in a sport that often focuses on the horses, it’s refreshing as hell to see a rider get the spotlight he deserves.
So next time you see the name “W. Gordon” on the race card, don’t just glance past it. Watch. Because you might just be watching history in the making. Here’s to the chase. Here’s to the century. And here’s to a bloke who refuses to stop until he gets there.
Go on, Will. The whole country is rooting for you.