Braith Nock, a 23-year-old apprentice jockey from Scone, is set to make his Group 1 debut in the $2 million Sydney Cup at Randwick, partnering with Mostly Cloudy. This opportunity comes after Nock narrowly missed a Golden Slipper start with Alabama Magic.

Nock, who had his first race ride in January 2023, has quickly risen through the ranks, securing support from leading trainers and achieving 20 city winners this season, placing him just behind apprentice premiership leader Molly Bourke. His success is partly attributed to a three-month loan stint with Peter Snowden.

Before dedicating himself to horse racing, Nock was a professional bull rider, competing at high levels in events like the PBR (Professional Bull Riders). He mentioned that the adrenaline rush from bull riding is similar to the thrill of winning a race, and that the experience has helped him handle the pressure of race riding.

Mostly Cloudy, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, is listed at $51 with Sportsbet and will start from gate 10. Nock acknowledges the challenge of riding at 50kg but is determined to make the weight. He plans to ride Mostly Cloudy for luck, hoping the horse's stamina will enable a strong finish.