Racing: Du Plessis says farewell, but not goodbye

Mark Du Plessis might be leaving New Zealand tomorrow, but he'll never regret coming here.

Bazelle's $350,000 New Zealand Herald Auckland Cup-winning rider has taken up another lengthy Singapore riding contract, but says he will always call New Zealand his home.

The Zimbabwean jockey has no such thoughts about his homeland.

His brother-in-law Laurence Erasmus is now farming in New Zealand after leaving Zimbabwe with nothing after the government confiscated his farm.

New Zealand has been good to Du Plessis and in return he has proved to be a talented rider.

He spent nearly three lucrative years riding in Singapore, relocated briefly to Macau then returned to New Zealand last year.

He said he could only imagine that his original attempt to be re-licensed in Singapore was turned down because officials had been upset at his shift to Macau.

"I understand my contract is for as long as I'm happy to ride in Singapore. I'll be back here one day to live. These sort of opportunities are too lucrative to turn down."

He'll be missed.

His ride on Bazelle was exactly what trainer Paul Jenkins had asked for. When the pair discussed tactics, Jenkins asked Du Plessis to lead on the Zabeel mare.

"That was fine until Opie Bosson came around on Bel Air."

Bazelle trailed Bel Air, sat outside the leader half a length back for a while and exploded when Du Plessis pressed the button at the top of the home straight.

"She did exactly what Paul said she would do."

A four-length break halfway down was reduced to not much more than one by the home-straight sprint from Melbourne stayer Bondy, but the winners were never in danger.

It was Du Plessis' sixth group one victory.

The punch in the air with the left hand on the line told the story.