Lance O'Sullivan lost one Desert Gold Stakes mount yesterday but soon picked up another.
O'Sullivan, who was originally engaged for Chimeara in tomorrow's $35,000 Trentham feature, will now ride the Lindauer Guineas runner-up La Bella Dama.
O'Sullivan has yet to experience his customary success at premier meetings this term, with one win from 24 rides but he has a solid book of rides at Trentham.
He rides Cinder Bella in the group one Captain Cook Stakes, a race he won last year on Cent Home and will also partner Hayjay, Yuan Diamond, Sursum Corda, Saxaphone, Sharif and Stan Getz.
O'Sullivan is equal fifth on the jockeys premiership and jumps rider Rochelle Lockett is the only rival rider in the top 30 with a superior strike rate.
O'Sullivan also has a remarkable overall record at premier meetings with a career tally of 147 premier wins from 697 rides, a strike rate of 4.74.
Chimeara will miss the group three Desert Gold (1500m) because of a wet track and the Danehill filly will now complete her One Thousand Guineas preparation in a class one 1600m at Te Rapa on Monday.
Spring Rain, an acceptor in the Desert Gold and Captain Cook, has also been scratched from tomorrow's meeting.
A soft track should not be a problem for La Bella Dama who has had a win and two placings from three starts in soft ground.
She ran on strongly behind Millennium in the Lindauer Guineas at her first attempt at 1600m and at her previous start ran third behind Ballina Kate in the Guineas Trial (1400m) at Ellerslie.
She needed the run when sixth in the Waikato Stakes (1200m) first up this season and was badly checked early when beaten in the Highview Stakes (1200m).
The Desert Sun filly has won only once from 12 starts but that win came in a listed race at Ellerslie last term and she also ran fourth, after missing the start, in the Ellerslie Sires' Produce in April.
Gary Grylls, who has ridden La Bella Dama at her last two starts, is riding at Caulfield and trainer Keith Hawtin was having trouble finding a replacement until O'Sullivan became available.
- NZPA
Racing: O'Sullivan quick to find replacement
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