Jay Ford's perseverance continues to pay dividends as he embarks on climb back to top Lone wolf Jay Ford might not be linked to a major stable but he remains a talent. Jay Ford will have seven rides at Rosehill, all for different trainers. JAY Ford is proof you can still survive being a freelance jockey in Australian racing's most cut-throat racing environment. It is no coincidence the hoops at the top of the Sydney premiership - Hugh Bowman, Tommy Berry and Kerrin McEvoy - are aligned with the powerhouse Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden stables. But the under-stated Ford continues to pop up in the winner's circle for different trainers. He was at it again on Wednesday when he watched himself on the in-field big-screen TV at Canterbury driving Destiny Rising to victory for Brian Gentle. His seven rides at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow are for seven different trainers. While Ford described his autumn carnival as "the quietest I've had in years," he is keen to knuckle down and begin "working my way up the food chain again." Ford's premiership cause will only be boosted by the absence of Berry and Corey Brown, who have travelled abroad, with James McDonald to follow suit in the coming weeks. "Sydney has become quite a tough arena, and if you're going to be at the top you need the backing of the big stables," Ford said. Racing is a power and numbers game. I've never had the backing of a major stable. I've been like that all my career. I've ridden for most of them at some stage, but I've never been attached for a long time. Don't get me wrong, if an opportunity came up (to link with a big stable), I'd jump at it. But I'll still manage to ride winners with limited opportunities. I've always found a good horse or two every season. Ford said he passed on a few opportunities to ride at Eagle Farm tomorrow, and wanted to get the ball rolling in Sydney. The 29-year-old Group 1-winning hoop labelled the Joe Pride-trained mare My Sabeel in the Ken Callander Fellowship (1100m) his best chance. "She didn't have any luck the other day when resuming at Gosford, she was drawn on the inside and never got a crack at them," Ford said. With any sort of luck she'll be right in this race. Her form last preparation was really good, and she only has to have the right run to figure quite strongly at the finish. Ford also expected Ireland's Teardrop for Anthony Cummings to "run a race at odds" in race four, and Kiwi mare Zonza to bounce back in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) after her Rowley Mile flop. "She didn't perform last week at Hawkesbury and lost her marbles a bit pre-race," Ford said. She carried on in the enclosure, and didn't even participate in the run. She was out the back and off the bridle and wasn't interested. Her form in New Zealand before that was quite strong, and being by Zabeel, she will love the step up to 2000m.