By MIKE DILLON
Cool is a word any 16-year-old identifies with.
It might be hip teenage speak, but it's the perfect word to describe racing's 16-year-old whiz kid, Michael Walker.
Plenty of factors are behind Walker's stunning dash-at-the-cash to draw level with Darryl Bradley at the head of the jockey's premiership with 96 wins.
He has ridden a remarkable 12 winners since Wednesday with natural horsemanship, headiness and, to be fair, some of the right horses.
But nothing stands out like his coolness.
There is enormous pressure on young shoulders and the eyes of the racing world burn into him in wonder, but he never looks anything other than a young kid riding a pony around a paddock.
If panic was money he would be living in the gutter.
Walker won on his first three mounts at Paeroa yesterday and the way he got the third, Forest View, home by a bare nose, was a gem.
At no point was the horse travelling like a winner.
With not even a suggestion of urgency, Walker gently persuaded Forest View into the race from fourth at the 400m and although he had to ride the gelding hard in the closing stages, it did not look a premiership-squaring bid.
Given all that, you are not surprised to hear him say he is feeling no pressure over the jockeys' premiership.
It's not even his target!
"My target for months has been to ride 100 winners before the end of the season and it still is. That would be a big effort," he said packing his bags at Paeroa yesterday.
He does not even see himself locked in a battle with Darryl Bradley.
"If the premiership comes along I'll have a crack at it, but it's not something I've given a great deal of thought to."
Little wonder he's cool on a horse.
Walker does not even know how many meetings he has to ride at between now and the end of the season on July 31.
"I know I'm riding at four this week, Waipa on Wednesday, Timaru Thursday, Wanganui on Saturday and Invercargill on Sunday."
Walker's serious lunge at the premiership came with five winners at Otaki on Saturday.
Asking a suspended Darryl Bradley what he thinks about sitting at home and watching Walker's dash until he himself can start riding again on June 12 is not a phone call you want to make.
"It's not easy, I'll admit to that," said Bradley last night.
"It's very frustrating not being able to get out there and defend yourself. It's a strange feeling having your hands tied."
Bradley was gracious enough to admire Walker's riding.
"He's sensational. He's riding them a treat, putting them in the race and then doing all the right things.
"All I can do is hope like hell he doesn't get too big a buffer on me."
If you were Bradley you would not want to turn on the television.
"I've been watching every race closely to try and pick out unlucky runners and improvers that I might be able to get on when I get back riding."
Racing: Whiz kid of cool heading for premiership
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