Christian Reith’s first involvement with New Zealand galloper He’s Remarkable has convinced the Sydney jockey he’s a live hope in Saturday’s $2 million Doncaster Mile.
Reith got the call up to ride the Roger James-trained He’s Remarkable on Monday after Corey Brown was suspended at Canterbury on Friday.
Reith was at Randwick the next morning to partner He’s Remarkable in trackwork.
“He worked by himself and was very sharp, very bright and very happy,” Reith said.
“He felt super and is very well in himself. Whatever he does on Saturday is probably going to be his best so he should be right in it.”
He’s Remarkable, the horse who controversially lost the Group One Railway Stakes (1600m) in Perth last November on protest, has had mixed results in his two Australian starts this campaign.
He resumed with an impressive victory shouldering 58kg in the Group Three Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) but then beat just one runner home in a star-studded 17-horse Group One George Ryder Stakes field.
“Speaking to Roger and having seen the horse’s run, he seemed pretty fired up and overraced,” Reith said of the George Ryder failure.
“Roger indicated he was stirred up before the race so that might have contributed to his performance.
“I’ve just got to keep him relaxed and get him to switch off a little bit.”
He believes the pressure of a Doncaster will suit He’s Remarkable, who will carry 52.5kg and jump from barrier five.
“With no weight on his back, if he can utilise the sharp sprint that he has I reckon he’ll definitely be hitting the line very hard,” the jockey said.
He’s Remarkable is most effective on dry ground but does have a close second to Jimmy Choux on heavy ground in the Group One New Zealand Guineas (1600m) in November 2010.
