The lure of riding opportunities is the driving force and motivation behind Kristo Sardelic’s decision to move interstate.

Kristo Sardelic hails from a non-racing background and never had an association with horses until he commenced his apprenticeship last year.

In 12-months the former apprentice butcher has booted home 25 winners and been placed on 68 occasions from 316 rides.

Sardelic celebrated his first winner at Carnarvon last June when he led on Stride Out before capping a top day with a double on Tell Me This.

Sardelic says moving away from his home state to Adelaide and teaming up with top trainer, David Jolly, was too good an opportunity to ignore.

“I’m pretty pumped to begin the next chapter,” Sardelic told The Races WA.

“In a perfect world I would like to finish my apprenticeship and outride my claim there.

“You never know what the future holds and what can come out of this.

“I’m looking at it as a big learning experience.

“I’ve got nothing to lose, really.”

A major ally in supporting and encouraging Sardelic’s move is champion jockey, Dwayne Dunn.

A winner of over 2000 races and 23 at Group 1 level, Dunn has played a support role in Sardelic’s development.

“He’s has been mentoring me for the past six months,” Sardelic said.

“He was the one who told me to think about going to Adelaide.

“It sort of came to fruition from there.

“My association with Dwayne came about as he is godfather to my partner.

“Through the past Albany season, he has been helping me out.

“I think he has helped me improve a lot.

“He said it was a good time to go across as a lot of the apprentices there are finishing their time.

“My partner and whole family have been really supportive.”

Sardelic departs Perth on Monday and says he can’t wait to meet up with Jolly, a leading trainer in South Australia.

“I was actually on the phone to him the other day and he sounds like a terrific fella,” Sardelic said.

“I’m going to be in the right hands.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au