Racing: Karaka Million attracts top Australian jockeys

Three Australian jockeys will ride in Sunday's Karaka Million at Ellerslie.

Michael Rodd, becoming a regular Ellerslie fixture, has been engaged for Cambridge juvenile Hoofit, Hugh Bowman will partner Brave Warrior and Queensland jockey Stathi Katsidis is coming to ride Brisbane-trained Sister Havana.

Rodd will be hoping his remarkable luck holds.

Last year, he had no plans to come to Ellerslie for the meeting, but was talked into making the trip by Auckland Racing Club director of racing Andrew Castles to ride The Heckler.

The Heckler and Rodd stormed home to win stylishly.

The Hecklers' owners, ARC directors Peter Walker and Alistair Sutherland, with Sir Patrick Hogan and Tony Timpson, have asked Rodd to return to partner Hoofit, an Ellerslie winner on Boxing Day.

Hugh Bowman rode at Ellerslie for the first time on New Year's Day and nearly tore off the group one Blandford Railway on Atapi, finishing second to the Michael Rodd-ridden A Gold Trail.

He crossed the Tasman at the weekend to ride Atapi again in the Telegraph, but the horse was scratched on race morning after banging a leg.

"Hugh said at Ellerslie that he'd love to come back and ride here and when the mount on Brave Warrior became available he jumped at it," said Castles.

Stathi Katsidis has ridden at Ellerslie previously and has been the rider lately of Sister Havana, trained by Liam Birchley, who brought Sarge In Charge over for the Karaka Million last year to finish second to The Heckler.

Manawatu trainer Peter Hurdle tried to make it four Australian riders when he approached Nash Rawiller to ride his runner Aladdin Prince.

"He's riding in Tasmania on Saturday and Gai Waterhouse requires him to ride something for her on Sunday," said Hurdle.

"I've ended up with Lisa Allpress on him. He's not the easiest horse to ride and I wanted the most experienced rider I could get."

Central Districts hoop Jonathan Riddell was to have ridden Aladdin Prince, but received a suspension at Trentham on Saturday. Aladdin Prince, with Hugh Bowman in the saddle, failed to handle the wet track at Trentham at the weekend and beat on runner home in the Wakefield Challenge.

Queensland filly Sister Havana, who is stabled at Pukekohe, will work on the Ellerslie course proper this morning.

She was not expected to be asked for much, but the look around Ellerslie will be invaluable.