Patrick Moloney to ride in New Zealand

Patrick Moloney will ride in New Zealand for Mike Moroney, trainer of Group 3 winner Vengeur Masque.

Victorian jockey Patrick Moloney has delayed a holiday to ride in New Zealand for the first time.

The 23-year- old has answered a call from trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney to ride over the weekend, replacing fellow Australian Jake Bayliss who is suspended.

“I’m stable rider for Mike in Melbourne and basically I have been for the last year and a-half to two years,” Moloney told NZ Racing Desk.

“I was going to go on holiday and then Mike said to me that Jake (Bayliss) had been suspended and would I go over and ride a few. I said yes straight away, no dramas.”

Among Moloney’s wins this spring was the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the Moroney-trained Vengeur Masque.

At Otaki on Friday, Moloney will be aboard The Boy Wonder in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m), as well as the colt’s stablemates Bocce, Ali Baba and Sound Works.

A day later at Ellerslie, he will partner On The Rocks in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) and has picked up outside rides on Sweet Leader, Tattybogler, Secret Stash and Tourmaline.

“I’ve watched The Boy Wonder and On The Rocks and they look nice, progressive three-year-olds so I was more than happy to jump on board and I might eventually get back on them if they come to Melbourne,” Moloney said.

“It will be a good learning experience no matter what happens.

“I’ll be back home after Saturday and then go on holiday. I was going to Bali, but with the volcano erupting I might have to change destination.”