Sydney-based former New Zealand jockey Larry Cassidy will be the first jockey to take advantage of the revised conditions for riders crossing the Tasman since equine influenza broke out.
Cassidy will ride at Hastings tomorrow, where he has been engaged for the former Melbourne-trained Splashing Out in the$250,000 Mudgway Stakes.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) had banned riders and stable employees from Australia working in the New Zealand industry.
But yesterday the decision was overturned, providing riders follow strict conditions. They included all riding gear being thoroughly disinfected and riders assuring stipendiary stewards they had complied with all biosecurity measures.
Splashing Out was to have been ridden tomorrow by Hayden Tinsley but he has become unwell.
Two other riders returning to New Zealand are Jan Cameron and trackwork rider Patrick Ferris. Cameron is returning to Canterbury from a stint in Western Australia.
One rider to miss out on a ride tomorrow is Patrick Holmes. He returned to New Zealand yesterday from a recent stint in Sydney and was planning to ride Magic Cape at Tauranga tomorrow.
Magic Cape's connections had already organised for Jason Waddell to take the mount when it appeared Holmes could not.
NZTR chief executive Paul Bittar said he had some sympathy for Holmes but it was just unfortunate.
"I think that's just the way it works out," Bittar said. "We were acting in the best interests of the industry. Patrick is just one person among thousands in the industry."
Bittar said the change over conditions of riders and stable employees entering New Zealand was not a backflip.
He said the body had needed time to secure advice from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
"The initial advice was just a holding notice until such time we were able to agree on a set of protocols."
