Grounding leaves jockey arrivals up in air

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 12 years ago

Grounding leaves jockey arrivals up in air

By Andrew Wu
Jockey Christophe Lemaire is stuck in transit.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire is stuck in transit.Credit: Getty

WHEN French trainer Mikel Delzangles outlined his plan to win the Melbourne Cup with Dunaden he did not think it would be this difficult to secure a jockey for the horse.

The industrial dispute that has grounded Qantas' entire fleet has given Delzangles yet another headache on the eve of the $6 million race and interrupted the preparations of another overseas entrant. While Craig Williams will find out today whether he will have his suspension overturned in order to ride the Melbourne Cup second favourite, the man in line to replace him in the saddle, Christophe Lemaire, will still be in transit after his Qantas flight to Melbourne was cancelled.

Loading

Lemaire was due to arrive in Melbourne from Japan this morning but will not land until tonight, less than 24 hours before he is due to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

With no other airline providing direct flights from Japan to Melbourne, Lemaire will fly in to Sydney this afternoon and then catch a connecting service to the Victorian capital.

''It was a bit of a problem we didn't see coming but we were fortunate we got him on a plane but he has to go via Sydney now because Qantas is the only airline that flies direct to Melbourne,'' Delzangles said yesterday.

But Delzangles is not the only international raider caught in the crossfire of the Qantas crisis, with British jockey William Buick stranded in Hong Kong last night.

Buick, who will partner Godolphin runner Lost In The Moment, had been booked on a flight to land in Melbourne this morning but must now stop in Sydney and complete the final leg with Virgin. He is expected to land tonight.

Advertisement

Hong Kong-based pair Darren Beadman, who will ride Precedence for Bart Cummings, and Tim Clark, who will ride Gai Waterhouse's Older Than Time, are due to arrive today after completing riding duties in Sha Tin yesterday. They were not booked to fly with Qantas.

None of the jockeys of the remainder of the international horses are affected.

The Victoria Racing Club is expecting a Cup crowd in excess of the 92,000 that turned up on Derby day despite the dispute.

''The VRC is fully supportive of the way in which the travel and tourism industry is responding to the current situation and remains confident that the industry will cope well with the demands of the travelling public,'' VRC chief executive Dale Monteith said in a statement.

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading