Hong Kong based jockey Zac Purton will be on To The World in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday but Melbourne jockey Nick Hall will be riding the Japanese visitor from the grandstand.
NSW Stewards ruled that Nick Hall, above, was entitled to any winning percentage or losing ride fee for To The World in the Queen Elizabeth takes at Randwick. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Hall rode To The World when second to Hartnell in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 28 and was also booked to the ride the stallion in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of ‘The Championships’.
But connections of the Japanese four year old told Hall he wasn’t required to ride To The World this week prompting the Group 1 winning jockey to take the matter to the Racing New South Wales Stewards.
Hall claimed he held a firm booking and therefore he was entitled to the jockey’s winning percentage or losing ride fee and after an inquiry at Warwick Farm today, stewards ruled in Hall’s favour.
“Have adjudicated and ruled on To The World rider in QEII Stakes. Z Purton to ride and N Hall to get win or losing fee and %age,” Racing NSW Stewards tweeted.
To The World arrived in Australia following a second in the Group 1 US$4m Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (2500m) at Nakayama in Japan on December 28 and was heavily back in The BMW to be sent out the $2.60 favourite but after being pushed wide on the corner couldn’t match it with the John O’Shea trained Hartnell who was the second pick at $3.10.
The well performed To The World is also well fancied in the market order for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au at $4, challenging the $3.60 favourite Contributer for the top spot.
Contributer is also trained by O’Shea and will carry the same Godolphin royal blue colours that James McDonald sported on Hartnell.
To The World has drawn well at gate five and is dropping back to 2000m, a distance he has won twice over back in Japan.
Japan will also be represented by Tosen Stardom who will jump from barrier eleven with Tommy Berry to ride.
Berry was aboard the Deep Impact four year old when second to Contributer in the Group 1 $500,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 21 and is also well fancied in the market order at $7.50.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Contributer, $4 To The World, $7.50 Tosen Stardom, Criterion, $8.50 Adelaide, $15 Lucia Valentina, $17 Royal Descent, $21 Spillway $26 Beaten Up, $34 Red Cadeaux, $41 Happy Trails, $51 Fiveandahalfstar, $201 Aomen.
