Wiggins Claims Classic Win to Help Riding Mate

Big race jockey Ryan Wiggins was on a mission to help a fellow hoop with his brilliantly judged ride to win on Dance For Me Randy in Saturday’s Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic at Cluden Park.

Wiggins publicly committed before the race to donate $1000 of his winning fee to the Go Fund Me fundraiser for jockey Adrian Layt’s son Liam, who suffers from the incurable condition Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

And immediately after the Classic Cluden Park matched  Wiggins’ donation and urged the public to support the cause.

The fund has been set up to financially assist the Layt family with the costly home modifications needed to support and care for six-year-old Liam. 

Wiggins delivered an inspired ride on Dance For Me Randy, kicking clear early to avoid trouble and going on to win the Classic for the third time.

“It’s a great feeling to win this race back to back. But obviously today I was looking forward to winning the race so I could donate $1000 to Adrian Layt’s young fella who’s battling with a disease he’s got to live with this for the rest of his life,” Wiggins said. 

“Hopefully people will get right behind it as well and donate to help Adrian and his wife and the kids. 

“You can go to my twitter page and you can definitely contribute through the link there to the Go Fund Me fundraiser. 

“I’d urge everyone to do it for sure, and the Townsville Turf Club is going to donate $1000 too which is great of the club.”

Although Dance For Me Randy was considered the second seed for the premier stable of Georgie Holt, Wiggins said he was extremely confident he was on the right horse.

“I’ve won the race three times now, twice for Garnett Taylor and now one for Georgie and Aidan,” Wiggins said.

“It’s been a good race to me. I always seem to find the right horse at the right time. I know the two-year-olds pretty well so I was pretty confident I was on a strong chance.

“I just love winning it.

“It was a messy race. To be honest I could see what was happening behind me. I had Justin Stanley’s horse (favourite I’lltellyougo) in front of me and I thought I’m just going to get on my bike and get going and I should be on the best horse.

“As you know with two-year-olds if you’re in front it’s hard for them to run you down because they just find trouble behind you. A lot of the jockeys found trouble in the race and I was off and gone.

“I’m glad I took off early, he got a bit tired late but he was still good enough to win. 

“He’s actually a really nice horse. I’ve won on him over 1000m and now over 1200m.   

“The 1400m at Eagle Farm when he went down there was probably a bit much for him but I think it’s worth taking him back down next prep and he might win a race in town.” 

People can make a donation to Liam’s fundraiser at www.gofundme.com Support for Liam Layt Through Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Pictured (main image): Ryan Wiggins secures his second consecutive, and third overall, Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic, this time aboard Dance For Me Randy for Georgie Holt.

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