The misfortune of three other jockeys has provided Jake Noonan with a chance to launch his senior career in Saturday’s Group One Australian Cup.
Noonan has retained the ride on last start Flemington winner Niconoise but only after suspensions to Brad Rawiller, Stephen Baster and trainer David Hayes’ stable rider Chad Schofield.
Niconoise winning the Swisse Wellness Trophy at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
Rawiller was booked to ride the half-brother to 2009 Australian Cup winner Niconero until he was suspended at Flemington last Saturday.
Schofield is also unavailable through suspension and Baster, who had been booked for the ride after Rawiller’s ban, lost an appeal against a careless riding suspension on Tuesday.
Noonan only became a senior jockey on Tuesday and sees it as a “massive opportunity” to ride in just his fourth Group One race.
“It’s all about being in the right place at the right time,” Noonan said.
“Hopefully I can make the most of the opportunity.”
Niconoise has shown a liking for the Flemington track with a win over 1800m during last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival and a track record-win over 1700m two weeks ago with Noonan aboard.
The jockey hopes a similar performance on Saturday, albeit in a lot higher grade, will have the four-year-old competitive at the business end of the 2000m weight-for-age race.
Niconoise is a $41 chance in betting taking on formidable opposition including Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and a number of proven Group One performers.
But if he could cause an upset, the young jockey said it would be a timely boost.
“As a senior rider if I could come out in the first week and win a Group One it would be a massive stepping stone and push my career along,” he said.
“You never know what could eventuate from that.”
