Riddell on hit-run mission
‘‘He’s got good knowledge of the Melbourne tracks.’’ Tony Pike on jockey Damian Lane
Melbourne calls experienced New Zealand jockey Jonathan Riddell this Friday.
Riddell heads across the Tasman to ride Manhattan Street for Palmerston North trainer Lisa Latta in the Group III Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley’s night meeting.
The last time he rode the unique circuit was when second in the Cox Plate aboard class galloper Jimmy Choux who he earlier rode to Australian success in the Rosehill Guineas.
Manhattan Street has won three of his four starts, his sole defeat was his gallant last start second to Highlad in the Wanganui Guineas.
Riddell will have no time for sightseeing as he rushes back for Saturday racing at home. He jumps on an 11.45pm plane to fly back to Wellington to be at Saturday’s Group I meeting at Hastings where he has six rides. Platinum Command in the Group I Livamol Classic heads his book which also includes Lincoln Bay, Master Platinum and O’reilly Dancer all for Latta, Bob’sthejob for John Bary and Jon Snow in the Group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas for the Baker-forsman barn.
Riddell won last Saturday’s Powerworx Greys race at New Plymouth for the stable aboard Saint Emilion who also heads to the Livamol.
Riddell had a prior commitment to Platinum Command so Danielle Johnson claims the Livamol after her original mount Capella was withdrawn. In other jockey news Melbourne rider Damian Lane will maintain his association with exciting 3-year-old Sacred Elixir for the Caulfield Guineas in a fortnight. Lane rode the Tony Pike-trained gelding to victory in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas Prelude and will again partner him in Saturday week’s Caulfield Guineas. Lane could well maintain the ride through to the Victoria Derby.
‘‘He’s a very promising young rider,’’ Pike said. ‘‘He’s got good knowledge of the Melbourne tracks.’’
Hong Kong based Zac Purton rode Sacred Elixir to win the Group I JJ Atkins Stakes as a 2-year-old and has been in line to return to ride the horse in the Derby.
‘‘Zac is keen to come back for the Derby but if Damian rides him well and wins the Guineas it will be hard to take him off,’’ Pike said.
Expat Kiwi jockeys are on a merry-go-round on Saturday’s Colin Stephen Queen’s Cup winner Allergic. He will back up in Saturday’s Group I The Metropolitan at Randwick, with trainer John O’shea booking former Kevin Myers apprentice Michael Dee to take the ride. Allergic was ridden to victory on Saturday by Godolphin’s retained rider James Mcdonald, but the jockey cannot make the 50.5 kg this week.
New Zealand-owned and bred Antonio Giuseppe and Sacred Master are early favourites for the race.
Meanwhile Saturday’s Underwood Stakes at Caulfield could hail the abandonment of New Zealand-owned Tavago’s spring campaign.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper tailed off in Saturday’s race. ‘‘We will see how he is over the next few days but the chances of him going to the paddock are high,’’ Busuttin said.