Popular Kiwi jockey jetting off to India
Robert Hannam is heading for warmer climes and a return to a racing environment he first plied his trade in nearly a quarter of a century ago.
The affable central districts jockey will fly to India on Tuesday to take up a three-month contract, starting on July 13.
Hannam enjoyed a successful first stint there 23 years ago and during his three-year stay he racked up more than 200 winners against world class opposition, including a legend of the turf.
‘‘I rode against Lester Piggott,’’ he said. ‘‘Kieren Fallon, whose contract I took over, was there and Kevin Darley.’’
Hannam won’t lack for opportunities this time around either with the backing of an old acquaintance.
‘‘I’m going to be riding for Vittal Reddy, who was an assistant trainer when I was first there,’’ he said.
‘‘He messaged me and was keen for me to come over so we worked out a deal – you don’t get too many offers at my age!’’
The 50-yearold Group Onewinning rider also has the possibility of extending his stay.
‘‘Vittal has about 30 horses in work and his assistant has 20 so I will have the use of two stables and I’ll be riding on Thursday and Fridays at Hyderabad and Saturday and Sundays at Bangalore. They are beautiful big tracks.
‘‘At the end of the three months we’ll assess whether or not I stay on for the winter season, another four and a half months when the stake money goes higher.’’
Until then, Hannam said each race carried a purse of about $10,000 with a riding fee in the region of $100 and a jockey’s percentage at 7.5.
‘‘I’ll be away from family for quite a while, so you have to weigh it all up and it’s worthwhile. My wife Kim will be coming out for three weeks and then again during the latter part of my stint.’’
Hannam’s domestic 2016-17 season was highlighted in April when he posted his 1000th New Zealand riding success aboard Artaxerxes at Trentham.
His career tally features Group One victories with Greene Street (Avondale Cup, International Stakes), Iamishwara (Otaki WFA Classic), Distill (Levin Classic) and Aide Memoire (Captain Cook Stakes). – NZ Racing Desk.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained juvenile Malambo notched her first victory when successful in the Atkinson & Donaldson Plumbers 2YO (1230m) at Rotorua yesterday.
The daughter of Duelled had finished second in three of her five raceday starts going into the contest and was duly sent out a $1.60 favourite and always looked the winner under a positive Ryan Elliot ride.
‘‘I said to Ryan to see if he could win without knocking her around as we might back her up,’’ Graeme Rogerson said. ‘‘She deserved to win and we will probably back-up on Saturday at Te Rapa.’’
For good measure, the Rogerson trained Mutechi finished second ahead of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Ladynadel.
The favourite was also to the fore in the following race when the lightly raced Pearlescence relished the 1400m of the A T Cook Contracting 3YO.
‘‘She’s still learning and she lost her spot at the top of the straight, but I’m impressed with the way she picked up and hit the line,’’ winning co-trainer Andrew Forsman said.
‘‘She’s always been quite physically and mentally backward and she will get better as she matures. She’s a horse we’ve got a bit of time for.’’