The contest for the 2023 jockeys’ championship, which appeared to be over a week ago, has taken another twist.

Leading rider Reyan Lewis looked to be the firm favourite to win his first title with an 18-point advantage heading into last weekend’s race meets, but things changed abruptly when champion Dane Dawkins sliced the lead to 12 winners.

Lewis had 77 victories going into the two-race day carnival on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, 2023, while Dawkins had 59.

Dawkins won two races on Saturday, aboard Slammer for trainer Richard Azan, and Bootylicious for trainer Peter-John Parsard. Dawkins, therefore, closed the margin to 16 victories after Lewis failed to find a winner on the day.

Dawkins was in top form on Sunday, winning four additional races: Cookie Night N Day for trainer Marlon Pusey, Norblar for Gresford Smith, Unruly Dude for Oral Hayden, and Airstream for Robert Pearson. Lewis was again winless.

Dawkins’ six-win weekend effectively cut Lewis’ advantage to 12, indicating a significant shift in momentum. With only three and a half months (28 race days) left in the 2023 racing season, the jockey championship is far from being settled.

Interesting days are ahead.