Tim Clark teams up with Michael Rodd for NSW in Origin Jockeys Series at Eagle Farm

A DAY before he rides Takedown in the International Sprint in Hong Kong, Tim Clark will represent NSW in the first Origin Jockeys Series meeting in Brisbane.

Tim Clark will represent NSW in the Origin Jockeys Series at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans

A DAY before he rides Australian hope Takedown in the International Sprint in Hong Kong, Tim Clark will represent NSW in the first Origin Jockeys Series meeting in Brisbane.

Clark and Singapore-based Michael Rodd will ride for NSW in two races at Eagle Farm on Saturday, the first of three designated meetings for the challenge.

They will be competing against Brad Rawiller and Chris Symonds (Vic), Michael Walker and Damian Browne (NZ), Kerrin McEvoy and Dom Tourneur (SA), Brad Parnham and Steven Parnham (WA) and home team Jim Byrne and James Orman. The other two meetings are at Doomben on Christmas Eve and the Gold Coast on January 7.

Tim Clark will represent NSW in the Origin Jockeys Series at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans

Racing Queensland chief executive Eliot Forbes said the series was designed to add a new element of interest into the summer carnival.

“From the jockeys’ perspective, we think that being able to represent your state or country was a unique opportunity that jockeys do not get to experience very often, if at all,” Forbes said. “We think there will also be additional interest from punters keen to support their home state or country.

“We have recruited some big names to the series and I am very much looking forward to the friendly rivalry unfold on track between the states and between Australia and New Zealand.”

Our Boy Malachi to have public farewell

The horse who became famous as the Rockhampton Rocket will make a farewell appearance at the track that gave him his name.

Our Boy Malachi will parade on Saturday at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park where fans can also have their pictures taken with the gelding who was retired last month after a career which netted 19 wins from 27 starts.

He won 14 of his first 15 starts in Queensland including two Rockhamptoni Newmarkets and his managing owner Col Donovan sent him to Sydney and the Hawkes Racing team to try his luck.

Our Boy Malachi will parade at Rockhampton races on Saturday.

Donovan died before Our Boy Malachi scored one of his biggest wins in the 2015 Group 2 Expressway Stakes at Randwick after an enforced break for a bleeding attack and a life-threatening bout of colic.

A second bleeding attack during last month’s Darley Classic spelled the end of his career and he will live out his days on the Townsville property of Donovan’s brother Ross.

“He is the people’s horse and I always said that I would bring him back to Rockhampton to say goodbye to his loyal followers,” Ross told the Rockhampton Jockey Club.

Originally published as Tim Clark teams up with Michael Rodd for NSW in Origin Jockeys Series at Eagle Farm