Round of golf almost cost rider a shot at Romance
Michael Coleman has revealed how he nearly cost himself the ride on leading New Zealand Derby contender Rising Romance. Racing editor Aidan Rodley reports. Bunking work for a round of golf almost cost Michael Coleman his best chance yet for a third win in the New Zealand Derby, the Matamata jockey has revealed.
Coleman teams up with the Donna and Dean Logan-trained Rising Romance in tomorrow’s Gr I $750,000 TV3 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.
He goes into the Classic even more confident of success than he was for his two previous Derby triumphs, aboard Cut The Cake in 2003 and Xcellent the following year.
But Coleman this week admitted he counted himself lucky to have the ride after he chose to play in a Pro Am golf tournament instead of riding Rising Romance at Dargaville last November, when the Ekraar filly claimed her maiden win under Danielle Johnson.
“I rode her in her first two starts but I didn’t ride her when she won at Dargaville,” Coleman said.
“She was meant to run at Avondale but they scratched her when she drew out and went there instead.
“I wasn’t that keen on going to Dargaville. I wanted to play in a Pro Am tournament that Matamata had already organised a month or so beforehand, so I was probably a bit lucky to get back on.”
Coleman was back in the saddle for Rising Romance’s next start, a Listed win over Hera and Fast Dragon in the Trevor Eagle Memorial at Ellerslie, and the jockey has been careful to diary his golfing commitments around the filly’s programme since.
He has ridden her to a third placing behind Hera and Costa Viva in the Gr II Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, a win over Lucia Valentina in the Gr II Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day
New Zealand Derby hopeful Rising Romance (Michael Coleman) wins the Gr II Royal Stakes at Ellerslie.