Racing: Ex-pat 'Ice Man' keeps his cool over challenge ahead

An Australian-based former New Zealander returning to ride a New Zealand-bred, Melbourne-trained stayer in New Zealand's biggest staying race ... confused?

It all seems clear to Melbourne jockey Kelvin Sanderson, who arrived in Auckland yesterday afternoon for only the second time since he left Thames as a 6-year-old with his parents.

This afternoon he rides in a race in his native country for the first time when he partners smart Melbourne stayer Bondy in the $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

Sanderson is largely unknown in racing here, but the 30-year-old, brought to Melbourne by Bondy's trainer, Tony Vasil, little more than a year ago, has ridden 24 winners from 60 race rides for Vasil's stable alone.

The Ice Man, as Vasil calls the quietly spoken former Kiwi, shows no nerves about the biggest assignment of his riding career this afternoon. Vasil rates him highly as a crucial judge of pace in staying races and as a tactician.

Bondy is a half-brother to former New Zealand stayer Count Chivas, winner of a Caulfield Cup, and impressed with a nice solo gallop on the Ellerslie course proper on the second day of the Ellerslie carnival on Tuesday.

He has been backed for a lot of money in a double with stablemate Not A Single Doubt, the favourite for this afternoon's premier sprint, the $200,000 Waiwera Infinity Railway.

The track surface was yesterday recovering from rain on Thursday night, but heavy showers were predicted for overnight.