Trainer Gerald Ryan has snapped up Michael Rodd to ride two-year-old Aviator at Rosehill where the Singapore-based jockey’s main objective is to help Romantic Maid’s Oaks mission.
Rodd, who counts the 2007 Melbourne Cup on Efficient among his big wins, has been riding in Singapore since the beginning of last year.
He has answered the call from New Zealand trainer Roger James to test Romantic Maid in Saturday’s 1900m-race for three-year-olds as she tries to enhance her prospects of a start in next month’s Group One Queensland Oaks.
Aviator could also head north if he performs well in the 2YO Plate (1100m).
“I was pleased to be able to get Michael to ride,” Ryan said.
“We won’t know until after Saturday whether Aviator will keep going to the Brisbane carnival.”
Romantic Maid is the winner of two of four starts in New Zealand and comes to Australia having been cleared of any problems after she fell in the Group Two Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on April 23.
The filly was favourite for that race but now needs to boost her prize money to ensure a place in the Queensland Classic.
Among Rodd’s other Rosehill rides is the Tony McEvoy-trained Sense Of Occasion in the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) in which Ryan will saddle up Shoreham, seven days after his midfield finish in the Group Three Hawkesbury Cup.
Shoreham is being aimed at next month’s Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) and Ryan has no concerns about the quick back-up.
“He’s come through Hawkesbury in good order and is copping his racing well,” he said.
“And there isn’t another 2000 metre race for him coming up. If we don’t run Saturday we would have to run in a Group Three race at Doomben the following week.
“This fits in better.”
