POPULAR four-time Jamaican champion jockey Dane “Warrior Chief” Nelson might not want to jump the gun too early, but the bustling rider believes his experience and raw talent can see him creating wonders on the international circuit this season.

Nelson, who is currently riding at the Century Mile racetrack in Edmonton, Canada, had booted home two winners over the weekend of racing, taking his tally to six from 21 mounts so far this season. Nelson is second in the jockeys’ standing behind leader Enrique Alanzo Gonzalez who sits on 10 winners.

On Friday Nelson won aboard the Alivia Kettleson-trained Alpine Road in a maiden claiming race for three-year-old and upward fillies and mares going five furlongs on the dirt. Alpine Road, who took command quickly from the start of the race, was roused into the lane and kept to task, winning by a length ahead of Swift Swallow (Desean Bynoe) and Steamin Demon (Alberto Palacis) in a time of 59.35 seconds.

His second came on Saturday when Nelson steered Kentucky Legend to a three-length win in a maiden claiming event for three-year-olds and upward over five and one-half furlongs on the dirt. The Dale Saunders trainee broke inward leaving the starting gates, set the pace from the two path, and drew clear from rivals when given the cue from Nelson, winning ahead of Streakin Again (Mauricio Malvaez) and Run Rossco Run (Alan Rizo) in 1:06.3 minutes.

“It is always good to win races as this builds your brand, and I will continue to the Dane Nelson brands. Both horses performed well and I must thank the connections for both horses for the ride and belief in me,” Nelson told the Jamaica Observer in a telephone interview.

Riding in tremendous form, Nelson said that he wants to test the depth of the waters by targeting 100 races in one season.

“Mathematically, it is possible if you are getting the best rides and winning the races, but in reality it is a very tall mountain to climb. I have to test myself; I have to push myself to the best of my ability if I want to achieve success,” Nelson, the winner of 1,221 races in Jamaica, said.

As to his chances of winning a jockeys’ championship overseas, Nelson was guarded in his response.

“Everyone’s dream is to be called a champion jockey everywhere they go to ride. It would be nice to win a title up here, but it’s going to take hard work. The plan at the moment is to ride as many winners as possible and see where that takes me,” he said.

Since he started riding on the North American circuit, Nelson has ridden 277 winners, 280 seconds and 251 thirds from 1,545 rides, and has garnered earnings of CAD$3,079,192. Nelson’s winners included many Graded Stakes victories, with the biggest being the 2017 CAD$150,000 Northlands Park Canadian Derby aboard Double Bear.