KEY POINTS:
Vinny Colgan will have to wait five months for his $2 million ride.
The Matamata jockey was looking to win the A$2 million ($2.25 million) AJC Derby on April 7 on his Mercedes Derby winner Redoute's Dancer until he was suspended for his ride on Dezigna in last
weekend's $200,000 Starcraft Stakes at Ellerslie.
On the way through he was to have ridden Redoute's Dancer in the A$500,000 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday week.
Now Jim Cassidy will ride the Sydney-trained Redoute's Dancer in both group one races.
Colgan's problem was that if he appealed against his two-week Ellerslie suspension and the hearing was not before Saturday week it would allow him the Rosehill Guineas ride but not the Derby ride unless his appeal was successful.
Rosehill trainer Tim Martin understandably wanted the same rider for both races.
Colgan will get his turn at a big pot at Hastings in the spring.
"Tim's bringing Redoute's Dancer back to New Zealand for the [$2m million] Kelt Capital Stakes and he said I'm on him when he comes here.
"I'm happy when I hear words like that."
Colgan says although he is disappointed over losing the immediate Redoute's Dancer ride, he has no one to blame but himself.
"I did the interference on Saturday, so I pay the price.
"This is the best way [to engage Cassidy for both races], otherwise you get into a big hassle."
Martin said from Sydney yesterday that Redoute's Dancer had arrived back home in great shape after winning both his New Zealand races.
"He came over on Saturday and I'm very happy with him."
Martin named the Anthony Cummings-trained Teranaba as the horse Redoute's Dancer has to beat in Sydney.
On Saturday Teranaba finished second in the A$550,000 Randwick Guineas to Mentality, who is being aimed instead at the 1600m Doncaster Handicap against the older horses on Derby Day.
"Efficient is the other horse you have to worry about.
"I know he was beaten in Melbourne at the weekend, but he's very good when he steps up over ground as he showed when he won the Derby in Melbourne."
The combined jockey's winning riding fee for winning both the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby is close to A$150,000 if a 10 per cent, rather than the guaranteed 5 per cent, is paid, which is sometimes the case for major races.
Colgan has an aversion to the cold of New Zealand winters and has applied for a winter riding contract in Singapore.
"I haven't heard anything yet, but that's not unusual, they sometimes let you know with a week to go."
* Seachange galloped well in Melbourne yesterday morning, but a decision has yet to be made which race she will contest on Saturday.
"We haven't decided whether she will run in the Blamey Stakes or the Matron at Sandown," said ownership manager Rick Williams yesterday.
Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning took Seachange to Sandown to gallop yesterday.
"Ralph was delighted with the way she worked," said Williams.
"I know we'll have to face Sphenophyta if she runs in the Blamey - we'll look at the other nominations."
Sphenophyta disappointed for the Lee Freedman stable when resuming recently, but more is expected of the former New Zealander this time around.