KEY POINTS:
Trainer Mark Walker's Melbourne Cup plans for Princess Coup have been thrown into disarray after jockey Glen Boss indicated he was unavailable for the ride.
Boss told Walker yesterday he was under pressure from stewards in Hong Kong, where he is currently contracted, to ride at the local meeting on the same day as the Melbourne Cup next week.
"They told him in a roundabout way it's not in your best interests to come back (to Australia)," Walker told NZPA.
"It's a bit of a surprise. It's not definite yet but we're pretty much resigned to him not coming."
It left Walker and Princess Coup's New Zealand owners Ray Coupland and John Bromley with a desperate search last night for a suitable jockey who can make the mare's light weight of 50.5kg in the A$5 million ($6.05 million) Cup.
Walker wouldn't comment on potential replacements until he spoke with the owners.
Boss' Australian racing manager Bryan Haskins said the rider had been in touch with him to recommend any suitable Australian jockeys, but none sprung to mind as all the leading lightweights are already booked for other Cup mounts.
Veteran New Zealand jockey Noel Harris piloted Princess Coup to victory in the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings so would now return to contention, as would Chris Johnson who was the mare's original pilot this spring.
Longtime stable jockey Michael Walker or top lightweight rider Mark du Plessis could be other candidates, depending on who could make the weight.
The Melbourne Cup ride has been up in the air since Boss was suspended after the Caulfield Cup for causing interference during Princess Coup's solid third to Master O'Reilly.
Boss failed last week in his appeal, meaning he is sidelined until Saturday night.
Earlier yesterday, Walker engaged international rider Kerrin McEvoy for Princess Coup in Saturday's weight-for-age Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
McEvoy is unavailable for the Cup ride on two counts: he couldn't make the weight and he's engaged to ride On A Jeune.
Walker said several Australian riders chased the Mackinnon mount, but McEvoy's previous experience for the stable won him the nod.
McEvoy rode Distinctly Secret into seventh behind Makybe Diva in the 2003 Melbourne Cup.
He will travel over from England this week after winning the group one Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster aboard the favourite Ibn Khaldun at the weekend.
Walker said Princess Coup was in fine fettle under the care of travelling foreman Andrew Carston at their Kilmore base, outside Melbourne.
"She seems really happy and content. All we need is a good draw and a bit of luck," he said.
- NZPA
