Star jockey leaps into the great unknown

First he wasn't meant to jump, then he was, for a moment he decided he wouldn't, then, what the hell.

International jockey Michael Rodd was only on the bungy ledge at Auckland's SkyCity Casino yesterday for publicity shots for today's $600,000 Auckland Cup when, unscheduled, he decided to jump.

He had just flown in from Brisbane and the casino, sponsors of the race, invited him to inspect the tower.

Rodd, suited-up for a jump, decided it looked a good idea to go over the side.

"But then I looked down a couple of times while the photographer was taking shots and I'd learned from sky diving and bungy jumps not to do that. But I decided to jump anyway."

The 24-year-old is recently back from riding against the world's best in Hong Kong. He is as disarmingly honest about the experience as he is about his jump.

"After 18 months I decided I wasn't yet mentally tough enough for Hong Kong.

"I'd ridden 35 winners ... and asked the stewards to withdraw my application to stay so I could leave on a good note and they told me to come back any time I wanted."

Rodd has already ridden Prized Gem to win New Zealand's richest race, the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings, and won the Brisbane Cup on the same horse.

He rides Pacific Dancer in today's Cup.

Rodd didn't mind getting wet bungy jumping, but he hoped the rain stops overnight. "Pacific Dancer needs good footing. I saw him in that wet Melbourne Cup that Makybe Diva won, and he nearly fell."

Glen Boss and Olivier Doleuze, two other world-class jockeys, arrive in Auckland today to ride in the Auckland Cup.

Boss, the partner of Makybe Diva, rides Kind Return and Hong Kong-based Doleuze is on Zabeat, winner of Saturday's Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie.