BRISBANE - New Zealand jockey Mark Du Plessis is hoping for his first Australian feature success when he partners Pentathon in the group-three Queen's Cup at Eagle Farm tomorrow before riding in the Singapore Derby.
The Zimbabwean-born rider leaves on Monday after accepting an offer to ride thePatrick Shaw-trained Schmeichel in the group-one Singapore Derby (2000m) on Sunday week.
Du Plessis has ridden in Singapore for the past five years and won the Singapore jockeys' premiership last season.
The 31-year-old, who hopes to be granted New Zealand citizenship by the end of the year, has extensive international riding experience in countries including Dubai, Malaysia, South Africa, Mauritius and Zimbabwe as well as New Zealand.
"I'm looking forward to going back to Singapore for the Derby but it's only for the one meeting and then I'll be going back to New Zealand," Du Plessis said.
The winner of 12 group-one races, Du Plessis rode for the first time in Queensland during the winter carnival and landed his first winner there aboard the John Wheeler-trained The Real Rokocoko at Doomben last month.
"I've had only three winners since I've been here but I've ridden a lot of placings and just missed out winning a few group races several times."
Du Plessis' group placings included Pentathon, who finished third in the group-one Doomben Cup (2020m), and Sands of Time, second in the group-three Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben, while J'Adane was runner-up in the group-two Queensland Guineas (1600m) and ran third in the group-one Winter Stakes.
