Michael Coleman is to ride Genebel in the $600,000 Auckland Cup, stable manager Paul Moroney said yesterday.
It had previously been intended for Melbourne lightweight jockey Blake Shinn to take the mount on Genebel in Auckland Cup on March 4 but following a re-handicap for the horse there has beena change of plans.
Genebel has been re-handicapped an extra 1kg to now carry 52.5kg in the Auckland Cup after her win in last Saturday's Auckland Cup Prelude (2400m) at Ellerslie.
Moroney, brother of trainer Mike Moroney, said 51.5kg was a weight Coleman would have had difficulty making but the extra kilogram made the difference.
Coleman is the No 1 rider for the Mike Moroney-Andrew Scott stable at Matamata.
Said Paul Moroney: "Shinn accepted the mount on the understanding that the situation might change if Genebel won the prelude and earned a penalty, allowing Coleman to make her weight."
Coleman had been waiting in the wings for the possible Auckland Cup mount on Counties Cup winner Kerry O'Reilly, subject to the fitness of his usual jockey Cameron Lammas.
Lammas is awaiting a medical clearance after damaging a shoulder recently.
