A game of musical saddles has gifted Chelsea Burdan a shot at the perfect comeback to big-race riding at Ellerslie tomorrow.
Burdan is the new partner for Tiptronic as he tries to defend his Karaka Cup title in the opening race on Ellerslie's massive night.
Tiptronic goes into the 2200m handicap a last-start winner of the Group 1 Zabeel Classic but that has seen him lumped with 63.5kg, a weight rarely carried in a major handicap race.
Trainer Graham Richardson knows there is no arguing with the weight as Tiptronic was given 62.5kg in this race last year and won carrying 60.5kg with Wiremu Pinn claiming, and has won that Group 1 since.
But the huge weight means Richardson and training partner Rogan Norvall needed another claimer and originally had Erin Leighton, who rode Tiptronic to win a star-studded trial last week, booked to utilise her claim before she became unavailable.