Life is pretty good right now for jockey Beau Mertens. Actually, that’s understating it; life is bloody awesome for the 28-year-old, who is happy at home and work – and riding winners for fun.

Mertens is one of the hottest jockeys in the land at present. From his past 50 rides, he is striking at a remarkable 24 per cent, having logged 12 wins. By comparison, his season strike-rate is 13.8 per cent.

“Yeah, it’s been a really good month. I’ve had plenty of success, the strike-rate’s gone up, there’s been a lot of winners,” Mertens told Racing.com. “I’m working hard and the results are showing.”

In March, the Group 1-winning jockey tied the knot with his long-time partner. That was followed by a month-long honeymoon, which included Mexico, the Bahamas and Miami.

Now happily married for close to nine months, Mertens credits Hayley – his ‘biggest supporter’ – for much of his success.

“Hayley has been amazing. She’s my biggest supporter and it’s been that way since we got together,” Mertens said. “She has been instrumental to my success. She watches every race and cheers home every ride.

“She’s always sending me messages and congratulating me. To have her back at home on the farm – we have an agistment property at Pearcedale – she manages that and takes care of everything. I can go about my business and come home knowing she’s got that sorted.

“It really allows me to concentrate on my riding and being the best I can be. I have no doubt I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without her by my side.”

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

It’s stating the obvious, but the better the quality of horse a jockey rides, the greater his or her chances are of success. That has been the case for Mertens, who in recent times has developed a formidable partnership with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, as well as Chris Waller.

Four of Mertens’ past 12 winners have been for Price and Kent Jnr and the pinnacle of their partnership took place last Saturday, when the lightly raced and highly talented Sabaj claimed victory in the Listed Cranbourne Cup.

“My manager (Mark Van Triet) has done a wonderful job. I’ve been with him for a bit over a year now,” said Mertens. “I do a lot of work for Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr; I’ve been a part of the team for a while now.

“Every year, we’ve had some success and it was great to get that Cranbourne Cup win last weekend with Sabaj. They’ve put their faith in me and put me on some of their good ones of a Saturday. Sabaj looks to have a very bright future and I’d love to stay with him.”

WATCH: Sabaj’s Cranbourne Cup win

Earlier this spring, Mertens chalked up placings in two of Australia’s greatest races – the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup – both for Waller. He finished runner-up to Half Yours aboard River Of Stars in the 2400-metre handicap at Caulfield, before guiding the same mare to fourth position in the two-mile handicap at Flemington.

Mertens has had four rides for Waller in November; three of them were winners. On November 3, he won aboard Naina at Mornington; he was in the saddle when Healing Frequency bolted in on debut at Pakenham on November 14 and on November 23, he piloted Tan Tat Delight to her maiden victory at Kilmore.

The only outlier during this period was River Of Stars’ Melbourne Cup performance.

“Mark (Van Triet) has had a good relationship with the Waller barn and is a well-respected person in the industry, so he has been pivotal in getting me on some good ones,” Mertens explained. “Having the support of the top trainers fills you with confidence and you know their horses are going to be in good shape.

“I was really proud of River Of Stars and what we achieved during the spring. Thankfully, they stuck by me after the Caulfield Cup. It was a terrific run in the Caulfield Cup; she poked through there on the inside and was great. Even though she didn’t win either of the Cups, she put me in the top placings in the best races.”

EYEING FURTHER BLACK-TYPE SUCCESS

Mertens will be looking to strengthen his relationship with Waller this weekend when he partners Kovalica in the G2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield.

Kovalica has won just one race (the G2 Q22 in June) since his G1 Queensland Derby heroics in 2023, but Mertens is confident the gelded son of Ocean Park can be highly competitive on Saturday after working him at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

“I was happy with his work on Tuesday and he seems to be going well enough,” Mertens said. “It’s a pretty even field and he should be thereabouts.”