New Zealand stayer Roi D’Jeu will launch an advance attack on Sydney racing in Saturday’s McKell Cup ahead of his trainer Craig Ritchie’s permanent move across the Tasman.
Ritchie and fellow Kiwi Bjorn Baker will set up adjoining stables at Warwick Farm from July 1.
Roi D’Jeu and Sydney Cup placegetter Solid Billing will spearhead Ritchie’s team which will number around 10 and include a mixture of stayers, middle distance and younger horses.
The winner of seven races from 1950 to 2400 metres, Roi D’Jeu comes into the Listed W J McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill off a second in the Group Three Rotorua Cup (2200m) last Saturday week.
“Roi D’Jeu will be the forerunner for the new stable,” Ritchie said.
“He will fly over on Wednesday and stay there.
“He’s a good tough stayer who prefers to race on top of the ground so it was a good effort to run second on the heavy track at Rotorua.
“The winner Indikator is a pretty smart horse so hopefully we can be competitive and see where we are at.”
Indikator was also among the 15 entries taken on Monday for the McKell headed by Voice Commander who notched his third consecutive country Cup on May 6 when he took out Wagga Wagga’s premier race.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has nominated three horses – Beijing Boy, Foreteller and Vintedge.
Apprentice Jason Collet, who is currently on loan to Waller, will renew his association with Roi D’Jeu to keep it an all New Zealand affair.
“Jason has won on him before and knows him,” Ritchie said.
Collett has had two rides on Roi D’Jeu for two wins last October.
Although training in Sydney full time will be a new experience for Ritchie, he is no stranger to Australian racing.
He spent seven years in partnership with his father Frank and was a part of the success enjoyed with 1999 South Australian Derby winner Showella.
The following autumn Showella came to Sydney where she ran third in the weight-for-age Ranvet Stakes and Mercedes (now BMW), finishing behind Tie The Knot and Arena in both races.
In his own right, Ritchie has ventured to Australia with Solid Billing on three occasions with the gelding successful in the 2009 Summer Cup and the Queensland Cup in July last year as well as his Group One third in the Sydney Cup this autumn.
“Solid Billing is spelling in Australia and he will come back into work when the new stable is up and running to be prepared for the spring,” Ritchie said.
“Im very happy to be coming over. My wife Melanie and I have two small children and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
AAP TURF
