GROB TO RIDE IN NZ

Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard are to add further Australian flavour to their Matamata stable.

Jake Bayliss is currently enjoying a successful riding stint with them and now another Victorian-based jockey in apprentice Jordan Grob, 22, is to join the operation.

“He’ll be here by the end of the month,” Gerard said. “He can ride light (52kg) and he’ll gain more confidence here. He’s a good young rider.”

A native Queenslander, Grob has been attached to the leading Caulfield stable of Mick Price and has ridden 44 winners, two of those at metropolitan level.

Meanwhile, Moroney and Gerard will saddle three runners in Saturday’s Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie with Scorch making the line-up to join She’s A Thief and Bocce.

“She’s improving and she deserves her chance, Leith Innes will ride her,” Gerard said.

Scorch was runner-up on debut and then finished fourth behind the unbeaten Avantage at Ellerslie.

Jake Bayliss will be aboard She’s A Thief, who won her first two starts before running third in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) to Melt, who is also undefeated.

“She’s A Thief hasn’t put a foot wrong and she’s a very, very classy filly,” Gerard said.

“Matt Cameron will be riding Bocce and he’s improved out of sight.”

Bocce won his first start at Otaki last month and was then fourth at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

“He did a few things wrong in his last start with the blinkers on so we’ll be taking them off,” Gerard said.

The stable will also be represented in the Karaka 3YO Classic (1600m) by their Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) winner On The Rocks.

“We’re very, very happy with him, he’s going really well,” Gerard said. – NZ Racing Desk.