Waikato jockey Wayne Hillis has received a call-up from trainer John Wheeler to ride his jumpers Wickerman and Crafty Dancer at Trentham on Saturday.
This follows stable jockey Clayton Chipperfield's fall at Hastings last Saturday.
Wickerman will tackle the $20,000 novice steeplechase after missing a run when the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase was abandoned last Saturday.
This Saturday's race will be Wickerman's first since running third in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie on June 4.
Wickerman remains a maiden after 10 attempts over the big fences including three in Australia. He has been placed in seven of those outings and has paid a dividend at his last four starts.
Providing he produces a satisfactory effort, Wickerman will back up in the $45,000 Wellington Steeplechase the following Saturday.
Crafty Dancer will be having his first jumping start this winter when he tackles the $20,000 novice hurdle. He has shown plenty of promise in the role with a win and two seconds from three outings last spring.
"He's relatively immature but is a smart jumper and should be right at home on Saturday," Wheeler said.
Crafty Dancer has also been entered for the $30,000 Wellington Hurdles (3400m) on July 14 but is more likely to be reserved for the Grand National meeting.
Wheeler will be represented in the flat races at Trentham with Oliverdance, Call Me Zeus, Jet Tone and Chichester.
- NZPA
Racing: Wheeler calls Hillis for Trentham jumps
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