By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Top aprentice Paul Francis aboard 17-1 upset winner Naughty By Nature at Caymanas Park on Saturday. It was his 64th win of the season. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WHEN Paul "Country" Francis lost his apprentice claiming allowance back in May, it was feared that he would have difficulty in making the transition to a successful non-claiming rider.
For a while the winners were slow in coming and like others who reached this phase of their career, his mounts became fewer and fewer. But Francis did not lose faith and with the help of a new jockeys' agent, Garfield Reid, he survived the bad patch.
This was achieved by dint of hard work, confidence in his ability and a disciplined approach to his profession.
As things now stand, "Country" is riding even better than before. He has matured into a top flight rider since losing his allowance, to the extent he has ridden 40 winners since, culminating in a sparkling three-timer on Wednesday, December 1. It comprised MOLTEN LAVA, MANDALAY BAY and PRINCESS GOODHEART.
A natural lightweight, Francis chalked up his 64th winner of the season at Caymanas Park on Saturday aboard the 17-1 outsider NAUGHTY BY NATURE, enabling him to maintain a clear third in the jockeys' championship behind returning champion Trevor Simpson and former champion Shane Ellis.
This win pushed his career total to 134 wins, making him by far the most successful apprentice from the last batch which graduated from the Jockeys' School in December 2002. He leads closest rival Oneil Mullings by 46 wins.
In just over two years in the saddle, Francis can look back with pride on his achievements. Last year, his first full season in the saddle, he not only emerged champion apprentice but capped a second award as the most improved rider, this by virtue of having finished third in the championship with over 60 winners.
HUMBLE
Success, however, has not changed the lil' country boy from Guys Hill in St. Catherine. He is still the same humble, level-headed and considerate person he was from day one.
This level of success has afforded him the opportunity to 'step up in life'. He now owns a car and is building a house in the country.
Still, he is mindful of the pitfalls that has devoured many a promising apprentices in the past, negatives such as greed, drug addiction and bad company. He vows to avoid these and stick to the straight and narrow path.
The 27-year-old rider spoke of his dedication.
"Every morning I am at the track from four o'clock to work horses for a number of trainers. Although I can ride as light as 49.0kg., I do a lot of physical training both at home and on the track (jogging) to keep fit.
"It's all about fitness," he declared. "But in addition to working out, I have to eat right", he adds.
With Trevor Simpson expected to ride full time in Jamaica again next year, "Country" believes it will be a tough task for anyone to dethrone the champion jockey.
His goal is to ride as many winners as possible in 2005.
"If that's good enough to be champion jockey so be it. But I'm not focusing specifically on the championship.
"In 2003 I was champion apprentice but I didn't plan for that in the beginning. It just happened and I was happy it did", said Francis, who in two short years has established a unique record at Caymanas Park of having won four races in dead-heat.
The most recent came in the last race on September 29 when his mount LORD LOUIS got up on the line to share first place with the Charles Hussey-ridden DEPUTY SHERIFF. Ride on "Country".
