Holiday detour for hoop
IN-FORM jockey Patrick Moloney will ride in New Zealand this weekend kicking off today at Otaki and then tomorrow at Ellerslie.
Moloney was preparing to go on holidays but as he’s stable rider for Mike Moroney, when he asked him to head across the ditch he promptly said yes.
Moroney was looking for a rider after Victorian jockey Jake Bayliss, who has been riding in New Zealand, was suspended.
“I was going to go on holiday and then Mike said to me that Jake (Bayliss) had been suspended and would I go over and ride a few. I said yes straight away, no dramas,” Moloney said.
Moloney had a spring to remember as he won Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes on Rich Charm, the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Vengeur Masque and last Saturday’s Ballarat Cup on Grand Dreamer.
At Otaki today, Moloney will ride The Boy Wonder in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), as well as the colt’s stablemates Bocce, Ali Baba and Sound Works.
Tomorrow at Ellerslie, he will partner On The Rocks in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) and has picked up four outside rides.
“I’ve watched The Boy Wonder and On The Rocks and they look nice, progressive three-year-olds so I was more than happy to jump on board and I might eventually get back on them if they come to Melbourne,” Moloney said.
“It will be a good learning experience no matter what. I’ll be back home after Saturday and then go on holiday.”
Enigmatic four-year-old stallion So Si Bon has joined the Lindsay Park team. So Si Bon had his last run for Robbie Laing when he finished fifth in the Zipping Classic.