Cropp makes comeback

Lisa Cropp. Photo / Getty Images

Disgraced former top Kiwi jockey Lisa Cropp is back in the saddle - attempting a comeback in Melbourne.

Last year Cropp was disqualified from riding for nine months on methamphetamine charges and ordered to pay fines and costs of nearly $100,000. New Zealand racing authorities say she has not applied to race again here and there is no barrier to her riding in Melbourne.

This week Cropp was at Moe Racecourse in Victoria, riding Lockne's Choice to eighth place in a race, understood to be the first ride since her return. She hung up when the Herald on Sunday called on Friday and did not return several messages.

However, last month Cropp, who has won more than 1300 races in 11 countries, told the racenet website that she had decided to make a "completely fresh start" in Melbourne rather than New Zealand.

The jockey said she was "100 per cent ready" and was "thrilled" with the response she had received from trainers who had offered her rides.

Her ban followed a four-year saga, after a urine sample tested positive to methamphetamine shortly after she rode to victory on Darci Brahma at Te Rapa, Hamilton, in May 2005.

In the 2004-05 season Cropp topped the New Zealand premiership with a record 197 wins.

But after the positive test, Cropp's case dragged through the judicial process, including the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, with the Cambridge jockey earning nearly $1 million in domestic race fees in the meantime.

New Zealand chief stipendiary steward Cameron George said he had received phone calls from Cropp and Victoria Racing and he cleared the way for Cropp to ride in Melbourne.

"Her penalty has been served, her fines were paid and I cleared her because she was under no embargo from here."

George said no application for a licence to ride in New Zealand had been received from Cropp but the board of Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand would consider any application "on its merits".

One New Zealand race commentator described Cropp as "pretty fit and determined". Melbourne was the ideal place to focus on her riding and relaunch her career away from the publicity spotlight.

"She's not a very popular person here."

It was possible that she could ride in the upcoming Melbourne Cup, he said.