Jockey Simon Miller has paid Blaike McDougall the ultimate compliment in comparing him to star Western Australian hoop Willie Pike.
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Pike is dubbed the 'Wizard of the West' for his uncanny ability to have horses travel underneath him and time his run to perfection.
McDougall is riding in career best form and has so far ridden 179 winners with just over a month left in the racing season.
He has easily surpassed last season's tally of 141.
Miller rated McDougall the best bush jockey he has seen during his career which is closing in on two decades.
"I've been riding for more than 16-years and I've never seen a local jockey at that level in the bush," Miller said.
"There have been some outstanding jockeys over the years including Nick Souquet, Peter Robl, Brendan Ward, Brodie Loy and Mathew Cahill who boast impressive records.
"But Blaike has taken it to another level this season.
"I guess the best way to describe him is that he dominates the local scene like Willie Pike does in Western Australia."
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Miller said McDougall had a rare talent to always have his mounts in a good position and then make split second decisions as the race unfolds.
"He just gets on the right horses at the right time and gets the job done," Miller said.
"That's what separates him, you can get on the good horses but you still have to get the job done.
"Blaike rarely makes a mistake and makes the right decision at the right time.
"I've never seen a bloke that can draw wider than 10 and somehow slot in fifth or sixth just off the pace.
"He always finds the right spot.
"Sometimes you can get lucky.
"But he does it too often for it to be sheer luck.
"He makes his own luck.
"But in saying that, it is a lot easier to do on a horse that is well in the market and you don't see Blaike aboard too many 100/1 skunks that have got no hope."
McDougall boasts an unrivalled worth ethic and travels thousands of kilometers.
The hard-working hoop regularly rides on the provincial circuit at tracks including Kembla Grange, Hawkesbury, Nowra and Moruya.
"It's a tough gig to do as many kilometres he does a week as well as wasting and keeping your weight in check," Miller said.
"He is a father with two young kids and when he has got any spare time he spends it with the family and you rarely see him at the pub relaxing or anything like that.
"He basically works seven days a week and you have to give him credit for that.
"He does the work, gets the results and deserves it."
