KEY POINTS:
Mark Du Plessis can pull in the riches in Singapore but he won't be going back while he can win group one races here.
"I'm staying here while these races are around," said the winner of the last Singapore jockeys' premiership after driving Prize Lady to an upset
win in yesterday's $700,000 SkyCity Auckland Cup.
Du Plessis has made a lot of money finishing second in the premiership in his first two years in Singapore then topping the ladder last season, but says none of that compares with yesterday's thrill.
"Winning any group one in New Zealand is as good as it gets because it's difficult to get on the right horse here," he said. "It's just so much more competitive."
His manager, racing journalist Wally O'Hearn, got Du Plessis on Prize Lady for the Auckland Cup when he won a relatively modest race on the little mare at Rotorua on January 24.
Two years ago, the Zimbabwean-born jockey won the Auckland Cup on Matamata mare Bazelle.
Du Plessis came to New Zealand to escape the political situation in Zimbabwe. He was not the rider then that he is today. He is the perfect example of how hard work turns into good luck in horse racing.
When he first landed at the Cambridge training centre, Du Plessis, to make contacts, used to run between trackwork rides.
His application impressed many, including trainer Royce Dowling, who gave him the first few breaks.
Du Plessis is now one of the most accomplished international jockeys around. His balance and sense of timing is excellent. His measured approach to every task continues to impress.
He said he did not go into yesterday's group one contest with any great confidence.
"If I knew one thing it was that she would see out the trip [3200m].
"I was a little worried about the outside barrier draw and also that I had to keep her out of trouble because of her small size."
Du Plessis got more confident as the race unfolded.
Prize Lady hit the front halfway down the straight and had enough to hold out fast-finishing favourite Pentane by three-quarters of a length. Luckshan was a head back in third.
"She travelled beautifully in the ground and I knew I was following the right horse in Kingsinga."
In his peripheral vision, he could see Pentane finishing strongly on his outside from the 120m mark but was already waiting for the finish line to raise his whip in salute.
* Unfortunately, the race ended with fine stayer Envoy having to be put down after shattering a hind fetlock.