Champion apprentice Michael Walker has the plum ride on Vinaka in the $120,000 Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Waikato trainer Jim Gibbs confirmed the engagement after considering his options following last Saturday's racing.
Walker did his cause no harm when landing a winning treble at Ellerslie on Saturday to take his season tally to 143.
Vinaka needed a new rider because his regular jockey, Leith Innes, was suspended after the horse was relegated in the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at Awapuni on March 7.
The Ellerslie feature is shaping as the two-year-old highlight of the season following the winning return to racing of Flying Babe at Ellerslie on Saturday and confirmation that San Luis, winner of the Manawatu Sires' Produce, is also headed to Ellerslie.
San Luis' connections had been tossing up between the Ellerslie feature and a possible trip to Sydney for the $A500,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) on April 28.
Part-owner Rob McAnulty said San Luis would definitely head to Ellerslie providing the track remains okay.
"It is going to be an easier task. It might be a bit tough to go to Sydney at this stage of his campaign," McAnulty said. "You really need to be going when you are on the way up - not at the end of a campaign."
McAnulty, however, said the Sydney race could remain an option if the weather turned and prevented a run at Ellerslie.
It now means that Vinaka and San Luis will have a rematch after their controversial finish to the Manawatu event in which Vinaka beat San Luis over the line but the result was reversed in the inquiry room because of interference.
- NZPA
Racing: Sires shaping as 2-y-o highlight
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