Jockey Daniel Moor has been paid a compliment by the connections of Obsidian Dragon who have engaged him for the brilliant mare in the Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
Trainer David Balfour was looking for a rider for the Hidden Dragon four-year-old to replace Steven Arnold who won on her last start at Moonee Valley when she carried 59.5kg but can’t make her weight of 56kg on Saturday.
Arnold will instead ride the Anthony Freedman-trained First Command who will carry 58kg in the Listed set weights plus penalties sprint over 1000m.
Obsidian Dragon was ridden by apprentice Scott Westover in her two wins before the Valley, over 1000m at Morphettville on November 12 and 1050m at Morphettville on December 10.
Moor agreed it was a nice feather in his cap to pick up the ride on Obsidian Dragon who is trying to make it four straight wins.
“I’ve been wanting to ride the horse for a long time. I’m good friends with some of the connections of her and I’m very happy to be given the opportunity in that race,” Moor said.
Last start Obsidian Dragon showed her customary brilliant speed to lead and beat Centexpress by 2-3/4 lengths over 1000m at the Valley on New Year’s Eve, with Moor noting that the win of Centexpress at Sandown on Wednesday franked the form.
“I’ve watched her (Obsidian Dragon’s) runs in Adelaide and here and she’s super slick and super impressive,” Moor said.
“With a bit of a weight drop I’m hoping she can again be effective in this race.”
When Moor, 27, won on the Freedman-trained Reparations at Sandown on December 24 he said he couldn’t remember when his last winner in Melbourne was.
He won another on the Freedman-trained Sabie at Moonee Valley last Friday night and is looking forward to Saturday.
Moor was suspended in Malaysia for a month and fined $10,000 for failing to ride to the satisfaction of Selangor Turf Club stewards in February last year.
“It cost me a lot of momentum but all the same it was an experience and I’ve come back better for it,” the jockey, who has been working hard riding trackwork for the Freedman stable for several months, said.
Moor’s best wins to date have been at Group Two level aboard Astrodame in the 2006 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley and Bird Of Fire in the 2009 Queen Of The South Stakes at Morphettville.
Obsidian Dragon is third pick in the betting at $7 with TAB Sportsbet which has First Command favourite at $5 ahead of the Mark Kavanagh-trained Weekend Special at $6.
AAP TURF
