Jockeys declared for first Origin meeting

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.

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.”