Racing: Replacement jockey steers Dijon Bleu to victory in Hastings

Trevor Tomlins (fourth from left) with fellow Dijon Bleu co-owners and replacement jockey Vinnie Colgan after winning the HB Breeders Gold Trail Stakes in Hastings today. Photo/Warren Buckland

Jockey Troy Harris was half a kilogramme overweight so Vinnie Colgan jumped into the saddle to steer Dijon Bleu to victory in Hastings today.

Colgan rode Dijon Bleu to victory in the Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes over 1200m.

"The [syndicated] owners had the option to change jockeys or have Troy half a kilo over but, look, I'm just happy to have the ride in the end," he said after responding to an SOS from Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta after Harris couldn't make the 56.5kg required in the race of 3-year-old fillies.

It didn't bother the 42-year-old Waikato jockey to adjust to the brown filly on short notice in the $70,000 group 3 race in the second leg of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival.

"Obviously I hadn't studied the horse through the day but I had watched a videos, did a quick study and jumped on for a weigh in," he said with a grin after Dijon Bleu brought joy to three co-owners who had travelled from Southland to savour the victory.

Colgan said the filly had had only five starts and won three and two of those at stakes level so she had great potential.

Trevor Tomlins revealed he, Kevin Dixon and Peter Finlayson had waited until Wednesday before booking their flights from Invercargill because fellow co-owner Latta was still undecided on coming here after Dijon Bleu won the listed 1200m O'Learey's Stakes on a heavy 10 track in Whanganui on September 13.

"This is the second race that we've been involved with as a group," said Tomlins who is known in his hometown as the "Golden Hammer".

Asked to elaborate, a laughing Tomlins said he got the nickname because he came from an impoverished background to become a successful builder and co-horse owner.

"It's been magical. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, really," the 65-year-old said before celebratory dinner and rinks before catching the flight home tomorrow.

Tomlins said Latta wanted to put the horse through the spin-dry cycle on Tuesday before confirming on Wednesday for today's race.

"She's just such a great person to have and with her ownership whatever she says we go with it. What she does is give you confidence."

Tomlins said the co-owners didn't break into a sweat when Harris was ruled out because they knew Colgan was equally savvy.

"We were quite happy that he was on because he's a great jockey."

Latta has nominated Dijon Bleau for the Gavelhouse.com 45th New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

He said even though it was taking risks he enjoyed the flutter and meeting people.
Finlayson is a GP and and Dixon a dairy farmer.

"I've always been a gambler, mate. You have to be that all your life."

The other co-owners Andrew Rennie, DA Masters and MG Passey.

Rennie told racegoers during the presentation ceremony at the birdcage he was a former Napier City Rovers soccer player who lived in the province for more than a decade before going on to pull on an All Whites shirt.

"To come back to what I call my home province and win this race is a pretty good feeling," he said.

The John Morell-trained Florence Jean, with Jonathan Riddell in the saddle, finished second 1.8 lengths behind Dijon Bleu while apprentice jockey Sam Weatherley rode the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Princess Rihanna into third place 2.3 lengths behind.