Star Queensland apprentice James Orman has been called up to ride Wagga Gold Cup winner Messene in the Group One Doomben Cup.
Messene, who was second in the Group One Railway Stakes in Perth last year, won the Group Three Wagga Cup by two lengths.
It is a great reward for Orman’s hard work as he leads the Queensland jockeys premiership with 126 overall winners and is third on the metropolitan ladder with 58 season winners.
“It is a real honour to get a ride for the Hawkes training team. Messene looks a genuine chance,” Orman said.
The 19-year-old had his first Group One ride in Saturday’s BTC Cup for a midfield finish on the Joe Pride-trained Target In Sight.
He then showed he was more than capable of holding his own in top company when he replaced Michael Cahill on Cylinder Beach in Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate.
The young jockey got a glowing report from trainer Desleigh Forster after Cylinder Beach finished second to Mackintosh.
“I would love to stay on Cylinder Beach for the Queensland Derby but of course Michael will have first call,” Orman said.
Cahill missed the ride after suffering concussion in a fall from Artlee after the line in the BTC Cup.
The veteran jockey literally didn’t know what day it was and was quickly stood down.
He will have to produce a medical clearance to ride another Hawkes runner Leebaz, the Hollindale Stakes winner, in Saturday’s Doomben Cup.
Hollindale runner-up Hauraki is the $3.90 favourite for the Cup but the big market mover has been Raw Impulse who is in to $5.50 second favourite.
The Darren Weir-trained Raw Impulse won a Caulfield 2000m handicap by three lengths on Saturday but is not a confirmed Doomben Cup starter.
Messene is at $19 in latest markets.
