His son Clayton gets his chance to win a jumps feature at the May carnival when he rides the Dean Howard-trained Yolanda Be Cool in the $100,000 Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool today.

The 20-year-old jumps jockey said a win in the main jumps race on the first day of the carnival would be satisfying.

“It would be a dream come true for me if I could win the Brierly,” Douglas said.

“It’s one of the jump features. I know it’s not a Grand Annual like Vic has won but I would be satisfied if I could win the Brierly at this stage of my career. 

“I started riding in jumps races at Warrnambool last year. I’ve had nearly 30 rides after riding as an amateur. I’ve been very lucky Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston have been great supporters of mine.”

Yolanda Be Cool was put through his final paces by Douglas at Warrnambool on Sunday and the young jumps jockey was happy with the work.

“Yolanda Be Cool is an agile jumper and I reckon that’s a good thing to have when you race around Warrnambool,” he said. 

“His form is better than it appears on paper. He’s only had the four starts over the jumps. There’s still a bit of improvement in him. He ran really well the other day at Ballarat. I’m quietly confident he will run well in the Brierly.”

Douglas has two other rides today: Mateo and Longshaw in divisions of the maiden hurdle for Houlahan and Johnston.