Lindop returns to roots for Origin series

Champion jockey Clare Lindop can understand why people are surprised she is representing Victoria in the annual Origin Jockey Series this weekend.

Lindop will join Luke Nolen to ride for Victoria against jockeys from six other teams at Doomben on Friday and Saturday and Caloundra on Sunday.

She was among the jockeys at a series launch in Brisbane on Thursday.

Lindop has ridden 1409 winners including a Victoria Derby on Rebel Raider and a Magic Millions Classic on Augusta Proud.

She has also been a dominant force in South Australian racing for more than a decade where she is a multiple Adelaide premiership winner.

“Yes, I can see why people would be confused I am riding for Victoria,” she said.

“But I actually started my career in Victoria as I am a Warrnambool girl and rode there for six or seven years before going to South Australia.

“I have ridden all around Australia and I have had some success in Queensland at the Gold Coast on Augusta Proud.

“It is a great chance to ride a winner at Doomben and also Caloundra where I have never ridden before.”

Lindop has a huge wrap on Jamie Kah who will be riding for South Australia in the Origin series.

Kah, turned 22 on Thursday, but missed the launch because she was riding at the Gold Coast barrier trials.

“I think you will see something special in Jamie as she really is riding very well,” Lindop said.

Kah is expected to do the riding for Tony McEvoy during the later part of the Brisbane summer series.

Dwayne Dunn, who is the other South Australian rider in the series, agrees Kah is a future superstar.

“Jamie has real talent and you are in for a treat watching her ride,” he said.

Kah wasn’t the only visiting jockey to miss the launch but New Zealand hoop Mark Du Plessis had an unusual reason.

Du Plessis got a cab to the launch but the hotel receptionist gave the driver the wrong address and he was halfway to the Gold Coast before realising the mistake.