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By Ray Hickson

It was bordering on a silly question but it had to be asked of Jack Callan, the latest emerging UK-based jockey to summer in Australia.

What’s it like to grow up with a father famous in the same sport he’s entered into?

The 18-year-old, son of multiple Group 1 winning Irish hoop Neil Callan who has over 2000 wins on the board, naturally says he doesn’t know any other childhood.

But what he does know is the benefit of having a rival on the track being his biggest fan off it.

“I don’t really know any better, I just see him as my dad. I understand what he’s achieved which is incredible and I can see how hard it is,’’ Callan said.

“I suppose it’s made it easier to be a jockey in some respects.

UK apprentice Jack Callan is keen to get on the board in Sydney. (Pic: Grant Guy).

“He’s done it for so long, he’s my biggest supporter but I know when he’s telling me something he’s being genuine and he wants the best for me.

“He’s been through it all, he’s experienced the sport in so many countries. It can be a cruel sport but it can be very rewarding too.”

Neil Callan is usually the first person Jack calls after a race.

With the time difference while he’s in Australia that’s a bit tougher but he’s very much still going to be high on the list for a post race debrief.

Apprenticed to George Boughey, who spent time in Sydney himself working for Gai Waterhouse, Callan said it wasn’t a hard decision to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tom Marquand, Billy Loughnane and Harry Davies to head down under.

Like Davies, he’s linked up with Annabel and Rob Archibald stable.

“My dad was quite keen on me coming here,’’ he said.

“It’s been very good so far, (Annabel and Rob) have been extremely good to me. It’s all very different but it’s nice getting into the flow of things.”

Callan will have just a couple of race rides behind him when he heads to Randwick on Saturday with three rides and a burning desire to notch that first Australian win.

He has 52 winners back home and finished fourth in the apprentice premiership to cap a year where he started to carve out his own name.

“I’d just like to get the first winner on the board to be honest,’’ he said.

“I absolutely despise losing, all I want to do is win.

“The first one is always the most difficult especially when it takes its time to come.

“Obviously I’ve only been here for a week and only had two rides so it’s not quite head frying yet but I’m itching to get it. Once it’s out of the way the pressure is off.”

It’ll be a late start for Callan at Randwick with his first ride being the Richard Litt-trained Romeo’s Choice in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m), an $8.50 chance with TAB on Thursday.

He’ll ride for the Archibalds on Hellsing in the TAB Handicap (1400m) and Eye Of The Fire in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m).

There’s no set return date but Callan will be back in the UK for the flat season, most likely around mid-February, and he has his sights set on achieving an early career defining moment.

“There’s a lot on my mind, the main one is being champion apprentice but we’ll see how we go,’’ he said.

“I just want to ride as many winners as possible and be better than last year.

“When you’re a kid and you want to be a jockey the most important thing in your mind is to be champion jockey and the first logical step to that is being champion apprentice.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick