Origin Jockey Series 2016: In-form Clark hopes to provide spark to end dark days

RED-HOT Tim Clark will be a key player in the opening week of the Origin Jockey Series on Saturday when he teams with Michael Rodd for NSW.

Tim Clark will replace the Godolphin royal blue with the sky blue silks when he competes in the upcoming Origin Jockey Series in Brisbane.

RED-HOT Tim Clark will be a key player in the opening week of the Origin Jockey Series on Saturday when he teams with Michael Rodd for NSW.

Off the back of his Group 1 success in Perth last week, Clark returned to Sydney to land a treble at Rosehill, which put him at the top of the Sydney Metropolitan Jockey Premiership this season.

Clark has a hectic schedule this weekend, riding at Canterbury on Friday night, Eagle Farm on Saturday and then Hong Kong on Sunday when he will ride Takedown in the International Sprint.

“No doubt I will sleep well on Sunday night, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Clark said.

“It’s going to be good fun representing New South Wales and hopefully we can have a bit more luck in the jockey series than we have had in the rugby league.

“Every year I get excited about the State of Origin and it’s just been mostly a let-down, but we will keep persevering.”

Clark is going to have a strong book at Eagle Farm, with Bjorn Baker booking him for Cadogan and Rock For The Ladies, while several local trainers have also sought his services.

Clark, who won the 2010 Doomben 10,000 on Hot Danish, is poised for his best ever season, having notched 52 winners already, including 34 city winners.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunities I’m getting at the moment,” he said.

“Winning a premiership is not something I’ve set out to do. It’s only early on and a lot of the boys have been away. Obviously it’s something I’d love to win, but realistically if I could finish top three I would be stoked.”

But in the interim, he is happy to take a Saturday off to don the blue silks of his beloved NSW and attempt to set up an early lead for the Blues.

Tim Clark continued his outstanding form of late when he partnered Dee Nine Elle to victory at Rosehill. Picture: Mark Evans

Orman gets Origin ride

JAMES Orman has been given his first call up to Origin, where he will partner Jim Byrne for the Queensland side in the second instalment of the series, which kicks off at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

In an expanded format to the one adopted last year, each team will have two riders in the six Origin races, which will be run this Saturday, December 24 (Doomben) and January 7 (Gold Coast).

Racing Queensland has also moved to widen the scope of the series, with South Australia and Western Australia added to the original mix of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand.

While the other teams will have rotating rosters, Orman and Byrne have been locked in to represent Queensland.

“I honestly can’t wait.,” Orman said.

“I was actually very surprised to be given the call up. I’ve been battling away okay this season given I’ve lost my claim.

“I’m pretty tough on myself. You always want to be doing better.”

While Orman may not be hitting the same heights as last season where his claim lifted him into premiership contention, he is still fifth on the state and metropolitan tables.

Damian Browne beat a careless riding suspension charge at Eagle Farm on Saturday and is free to partner Michael Walker as the Kiwis bid to defend the inaugural title they won last year.

Tim Clark’s appearance rounds out a host of big names who will be competing in the first week of Origin after the earlier announcements of Melbourne Cup winning jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Michael Rodd.

McEvoy will head South Australia’s challenge with Dom Tourneur, who was a key figure in agitating for the series to be expanded and include other states.

Brad Rawiller has been brought in to partner Chris Symons in the absence of Ben Melham for Victoria. Rawiller is scheduled to ride on each of the three Origin days.

WA’s charge is set to be led by the Parnham brothers, with Steve and Brad riding in Week 1, before Victorian based brother Chris joins in the following week.

Points will be allocated on the basis of 10 for a win, six for second, three for third and one for unplaced or a scratching.

Maroon zone: Queenslanders James Orman (left) and Jim Byrne will ride all three Origin meetings. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Originally published as Origin Jockey Series 2016: In-form Clark hopes to provide spark to end dark days