Racing: Calder takes a crack at Sydney scene

By MIKE DILLON

Lance O'Sullivan made an astute observation last weekend.

New Zealand's most successful jockey ever said: "We're not badly off for jockeys at the moment."

That's not a statement that could have been made five years ago.

And it was made by someone who should know.

When O'Sullivan was marching his way to 11 premierships, there was no great depth of talent to oppose him.

That has changed.

With the likes of Opie Bosson, Michael Coleman, Leith Innes, Vinny Colgan, Grant Cooksley and Hayden Tinsley on the board every raceday, we are not that badly off.

Innes and Colgan are lengths better riders since returning from Singapore and Coleman, along with the likes of Noel Harris, has never ridden better.

That list would be more substantial if it included the names Michael Walker and Andrew Calder, but both have just signed Australian contracts.

Calder flew to Australia yesterday and Walker leaves after riding at Trentham on May 8.

The Calder contract, as No 1 rider for astute Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan, is remarkable.

New Zealand has an astonishing record in Australia for producing the likes of Brent Thomson, Garry Willetts, Brian Andrews, Brian York, Shane Dye and Jim and Larry Cassidy as headlining jockeys.

But times have changed - we have not sent a winning jockey to Sydney in 10 years.

Gerald Ryan changed the pattern when he recognised Calder as a rider for the future.

"Andrew impresses me as a rider.

"When you're trying to break into Australia, timing is everything.

"I said to Andrew that the best time to come over is after the autumn carnival is finished.

"Our so-called best jockeys either go on holiday or go to the Queensland carnival and there are opportunities.

"If you can kick a goal straight off, you're away."

Ryan has never previously had a stable rider.

"I don't believe in tying jockeys down to rides.

"If a jockey doesn't get on with a horse, or he's on a horse he doesn't think can win, he won't do a good job.

"I'd much rather have a ride on who wants to be there."

Ryan has given Calder four top rides for the Sydney meeting at Rosehill on Saturday.

"He's on Striking Victory, who won the Kembla Cup, a first-start Danehill 2-year-old named Saxon, a former good Queensland sprinter in Damigos and Superior Sateen, a full to Redoubt's Choice and Platinum Scissors.

Calder has poise, listens well and gives the impression he is on the verge of an international career.

Sydney racing would not be quite the same without the Kiwi influence.

Shane Dye's ego and outstanding tactical direction almost certainly helped change the way modern-day jockeys approach their race riding.

For several seasons Dye won the most group one races and most prizemoney without taking a premiership.

"What does that mean," he always said.

It was never going to be a surprise that in recent years Dye has been in the top three or four jockeys in the toughest racing arena in the world - Hong Kong.

Larry Cassidy won the New South Wales premiership in 1993-1994 with 155 wins.

Remarkably, when he rode 181 1/2 wins in 1997-98, he finished only second to Allan Robinson, who rides essentially at provincial meetings.

Jim Cassidy has been a bit like Dye in that he has never worried about premierships.

He has concentrated instead on riding at carnivals and landing the big-race winners.

* Mark Du Plessis will be riding in New Zealand for at least the next four weeks.

Du Plessis cancelled his Macau contract this week after only one month because he and wife Barbara did not enjoy living there.

"It's horrible for a family," said Du Plessis.

The former Zimbabwean rider left a successful career in New Zealand to enjoy an even more successful time for nearly three years in Singapore.

"I've applied to get back into Singapore," said Du Plessis, "and expect to hear in the next couple of weeks."