By Brad Kingsbury
A RECORD five consecutive amateur jockey titles would satisfy most hoops who spend their summer months dieting and riding on bush tracks for love and not money.
But not Pakenham’s Adam Bodey.
Bodey, 33, started his annual preseason diet last Monday with the aim of shedding 12 kilograms to get down to his riding weight of around 60 kilograms by the first meeting of the 200506 picnic season at Healesville late in October.
“It’s the fattest I’ve ever been,” he laughed. “I weighed in at 72 kilograms and I’ve got to get to 60. It must have been all the home brew.”
Bodey’s laidback style belies a fierce desire to succeed and he has maintained his regimented routine for five years, reaping the benefits of the amateur racing world’s highest honour, the Barry Ryan Memorial Medal in each premiership year.
“I play around with different riding styles but stick to the same diet and training routine because it works,” he said.
“There’s always room for improvement and I do work on different technical things in the saddle.”
Bodey rode a record 43 winners last season and is looking forward to the coming year, which he believes should be bigger and better.
“Picnic racing is very healthy and seems to be getting bigger every year. The crowds are growing and the atmosphere at meetings is really good.”
He gained his trainer’s licence last year and recently prepared his first winner on the professional circuit when his horse Carlin saluted at Kyneton.
Bodey will combine training with riding this year and follow his usual riding path to the first official picnic meeting, with a working holiday in Corowa in early October.
“You can be as fit as you like but there’s no substitute for match fitness,” he said. “That trip just helps blow the cobwebs out and get me focused.”
Bodey prefers to worry about the coming season, rather than the long term and said he would continue riding for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t think you can put a timeframe on it. As long as the enjoyment and the hunger is still there I’ll keep doing it.”