KEY POINTS:
BRISBANE - Michael Rodd is hoping to add to his international resume by riding at Hollywood Park in the United States in July.
Rodd, 25, who will be the new jockey for New Zealand mare Gaze in the group one Doomben Cup (2020m) on Saturday, has been offered the ride on the David Hayes-trained Anamato in the US$1 million ($1.35 million) American Oaks (2000m) on July 17.
The Redoute's Choice filly earned a US invitation following her group one Australasian Oaks (2000m) victory at Morphettville last month.
Rodd is still awaiting final details from Anamato's owners and Hayes concerning the filly's travel arrangements but is looking forward to riding in his fifth country.
"I'm focusing on the Brisbane winter carnival for the time being and I'm riding Gaze in the Doomben Cup this Saturday," Rodd said.
"But I'm excited about riding in the United States. If it comes off it's a great opportunity and it's at the right time when the Brisbane carnival is just about over.
"I've ridden Anamato a few times and she ran third behind Miss Finland and Tuesday Joy in the Crown Oaks and third to Tuesday Joy in the Wakeful. She's capable of sustaining a long run and that's what you need in the US."
Rodd's resume already includes successful stints in Hong Kong and New Zealand as well as Dubai where he rode for former Victorian trainer John Sadler over a six-week period as part of a prize for winning the Queensland apprentices' championship in 2002.
His biggest success in New Zealand was winning the group one Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) aboard Prized Gem in 2002.
While Rodd was excited about his impending American trip, he was surprised to learn history was against Gaze upsetting weight-for-age star Desert War and heir apparent Reigning To Win in the Doomben Cup.
No mare has won the Doomben Cup since Dream was successful in 1950.
"Far out. I didn't know that," Rodd said. "That's done my confidence a lot of good but I suppose we'll have to change that around."
Gaze's trainer, Roger James, wasn't concerned with the history books and expected a big improvement from the Cape Cross 4-year-old following her last-start 10th to Coalesce in the group two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 5.
"It's hard to quantify how much she's improved since the Gold Coast run but I'm expecting her to go a lot better," he said.
- NZPA
