Nolen’s Big V pride on the line in Origin
JOCKEY Luke Nolen is famous for wearing the salmon and black spotted silks of the iconic Black Caviar.
But he is thrilled to be donning his beloved ‘‘Big V’’ of Victoria for the UBET Origin Jockey Series that gets started at Doomben today.
And Nolen shares a common passion with all Queenslanders – he would love to see the heavily favoured NSW get knocked off their perch.
The Origin Jockey Series concept returns for a third year in a cleverly condensed package as part of the push for Queensland to further own the mantle as the home of summer racing in Australia.
Jockeys representing NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and the World All-Stars will compete over two races at Doomben today, two races at Doomben tomorrow and a further two races on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Some of the hoops who will do battle on turf got behind the wheel of go-karts at Eagle Farm yesterday where their competitive instincts could not be reined in.
Nolen guided Black Caviar to her 13th-straight win at the BTC Cup at a packed Doomben in May 2011 and he returns with state pride on the line. “I’d love to beat NSW. “They say the only good thing to come out of there is the Hume Highway, so hopefully they won’t trouble us this weekend,’’ Nolen said.
“It’s really good to be wearing the Big V. I was born in Victoria and you are afforded few opportunities to represent your state or country in our game so it means a little bit to get that chance.’’
Michael Rodd has made a brief trip back from his Singapore base to represent NSW, which will cause problems at home with his wife Cara hailing from Queensland where the hoop also did his apprenticeship under trainer Brian Guy.
He is sick of hearing about Queensland’s domination of the rugby league interstate series and wants NSW to retain this particular Origin trophy that he won with Tye Angland last year.
“The amount of people that keep rubbing it in (about the football) … I keep getting reminded about it,’’ Rodd said.
“I’d like to do something for NSW because I bleed blue. Hopefully we can give Brad Fittler and boys a bit of inspiration for next year.”