Mark Du Plessis for Origin series in Qld

Star kiwi Mark Du Plessis has been confirmed as the final rider in the Origin Jockey Series in Queensland next month.

Du Plessis was born in Zimbabwe and has done most of his riding in New Zealand but he is well known in Queensalnd for his winter carnival visits.

He will join South Africa’s Robbie Fradd in an All Star team to take on riders from five states and New Zealand over three days in the series.

Du Plessis was Zimbabwe’s champion apprentice and twice senior champion before moving to New Zealand in 1998.

He has since won 19 Group One races worldwide and 80 Group and Listed races in New Zealand.

He has also won some of the world’s most prestigious races including Singapore’s KrisFlyer International Sprint.

The series will be run at Doomben meetings on December 8 and 9 and at Caloundra on December 10.

The other teams are: Jim Byrne and Matt McGillivray (Queensland), Craig Newitt and Brendan MCoull (Tasmania), Michael Rodd and Tye Angland (NSW), Luke Nolen and Clare Lindop (Victoria), Dwayne Dunn and Jamie Kah (South Australia) and Damian Browne and Larry Cassidy (New Zealand).