There has been a late change in jockeys on star South Australian galloper Dalasan in this weekends $5.15m Caulfield Cup.
Jockey Billy Egan who was booked to ride Dalasan in the Group One Caulfield Cup this weekend has relinquished his ride on the horse with star Western Australian jockey William Pike booked to take the ride.
William Pike was Dalasan’s connections first choice of jockey for the Caulfield Cup but the ‘Wizard’ had already committed to riding the Robert Hickmott trained Shabau in the race.
Schabau however will not line-up in the Caulfield Cup field meaning William Pike is now available to ride in the race, prompting connections of Dalasan to change to their jockey.
The move meant Billy Egan made contact with Chief steward Robert Cram to broker a deal after explaining the situation and outlining he had a contract to ride Dalasan in the Caulfield Cup.
“Egan approached the stewards and explained the situation,” Cram told the Herald Sun.
“It was established that Egan had a contract to ride the horse in the Caulfield Cup.”
Stewards have since brokered a deal (for an undisclosed amount) between connections and Egan over the ride on Dalasan who is a $17 chance in betting with Sportsbet.
The deal will mean Egan will receive a percentage of the jockeys prize money awarded to Pike in the race which could be as much as $150,000 at the regular 5% jockey fee if the horse was to win.
William Pike rode four winners at Caulfield on Saturday including two group ones in the Caulfield Stakes and the feature on the card the Caulfield Guineas.
