Mick Dee partnered Willydoit to win the Trackside New Zealand Derby in March. Photo / Kenton Wright
Expat jockey Mick Dee is set to return to one of his happiest hunting grounds, Ellerslie, with a full book of rides on Boxing Day, headed by El Vencedor in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic.
Melbourne-based Dee may not have the profile of New Zealand’s most famous jockey export, James McDonald, but there’s no denying his success since relocating to Victoria a decade ago.
The 29-year-old’s 15 Group One wins include the Caulfield Cup, the Victoria Derby and two editions of the Australian Guineas, including on New Zealand filly Legarto in 2023.
Midway through the year, Dee spent several weeks in Japan, where his 81 rides produced five wins and 10 second-placings.
Dee, who has farming interests in Hawke’s Bay in partnership with his parents Richard and Jo, has made frequent trips back home, most recently to win the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Willydoit and the Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) on Island Life at Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day in March.
He also rode Victorian raider Evaporate into second place to the Blake Shinn-ridden Damask Rose in The NZB Kiwi.
“I had planned to come home for Christmas and spend time with the family, so it works for me to ride at Ellerslie on Boxing Day,” Dee said.
“I’ve already got a full book with what looks like some good chances. El Vencedor is one of several I’m riding for Stephen Marsh, plus I’m riding Affirmative Action in the Auckland Guineas for Pam Gerard, so I’m also looking forward to getting on him.”
Dee’s book includes last-start winner Dance The Night for Roger James and Robert Wellwood in the Group 2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and recent impressive trial winner Pounce (Lance O’Sullivan/Andrew Scott) in the 2-year-old race.
“We heard Mick was coming home for Christmas and there was a chance he would be riding at Ellerslie, so we had a team talk and decided it would be a good idea to book him for El Vencedor in the Zabeel Classic,” Marsh said.
“He’s a top Australian hoop and if we did consider taking the horse to Aussie, he would be able to give us some indication of how he might measure up against their good horses.”
Dee’s Marsh-trained mounts also include Sneak Peek in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Final, Miss Fladgate in the Rating 75 1200m, High Emotion in the Rating 65 1400m and one of the stable runners in the Stella Artois Championship Final.
Marsh confirmed that star filly Well Written will definitely be at Ellerslie next week for the Auckland Guineas, a change in plans from the original intention for her first start since winning the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) to be on the Karaka Millions programme.
“She’s been doing so well we brought things forward to Boxing Day, and while she’ll be vulnerable enough and will be better for the run, she’s naturally athletic and we’re certainly happy to see her lining up.
“That will set her up for the Karaka Millions 3YO a month later and we’ll keep her ticking over with a trip up to Ellerslie for a hit-out some time in between.”
The unbeaten filly dominates early markets for the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO at $1.90 and $2.30 for the NZB Kiwi, in which she will run in the Entain slot.
A second Victorian-based jockey planning to be at Ellerslie on Boxing Day is expat Irishman John Allen, who will continue his association with Zabeel Classic runner Kingswood.
Allen has ridden in Australia since 2011, originally as a jumps jockey, when his successes included two editions of the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase before transitioning to flat riding.
In an incredible epiphany, he has since ridden the winners of more than 20 Group One races, including the Cox Plate, the Victoria and Australian Derby, twice each, and most recently last month’s Victoria Oaks on Strictly Business, trained by fellow Ballarat-based expat Thomas Carberry.
Kingswood, an English-bred entire, is venturing to Ellerslie in quest of a Group One win to enhance his potential stud prospects.
He is trained by one of Allen’s former jumps jockey colleagues, Gavin Bedggood, whose successes in his former role included the 2013 Grand Annual Steeplechase on the John Wheeler-trained Banna Strand.
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk