Jay Misbah, the Wingatui jockey, has planned a two-week holiday around Flying Alibi.
He rides Flying Alibi in the Winter Cup Trial at Ashburton tomorrow. He will then travel to Malaysia for a holiday.
He will return to ride in the $100,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 6. He is in line to ride either Flying Alibi or Royal Flight.
He has ridden Royal Flight in three wins this season including the Great Easter Handicap (1600m) at Riccarton. He rode the mare to finish third to Propel and Taking The Mickey in the Winter Cup last year.
He has ridden Flying Alibi in his last for starts for three wins and a third. The combination won the Amberley Cup (1600m) at Riccarton last time out.
Don't Say Clang, winner of the Winter Cup Trial in 2008, is a rival for Flying Alibi tomorrow, AP reports.
• Star Witness will return to Australia to stand at Widden Stud following the July Cup at Newmarket at 2.35am (NZ time) tomorrow.
Steven Arnold has retained the mount in the 1200m race.
He has ridden Star Witness in his two starts in England for a second to Prohibit in the King's Stand (1000m) and third to Society Rock in the Golden Jubilee (1200m). Trainer Danny O'Brien felt the soft track was against Star Witness in the King's Stand.
Star Witness is at 6-1 with bookmakers Paddy Power and William Hill for the race on Saturday. Delegator is favourite.
• The $1.025 million half-brother to Black Caviar is among a bumper list of entries for the Golden Slipper in April, AAP reports.
Australian Turf Club officials are still finalising exact numbers but said they expect the nominations to total 2000, an increase of 15% on last year.
"We anticipated a 10% increase due to the corresponding foal crop size," Australian Turf Club racing manager Colin Tuck said.
Darley has the largest number of entries with 168.
Darley and trainer Peter Snowden won all five group one 2yr-old races this term - the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper with Sepoy, AJC Sires' Produce and Champagne Stakes with Helmut and the TJ Smith with Benfica.
The Patinack Farm of Nathan Tinkler has 140 entries, many by their first season sires Casino Prince (65), Husson (46) and Wonderful World (39).
The sire Fastnet Rock has the most number of entries with 88.
The $A3.5 million Slipper will be run at Rosehill on April 7.
• Moudre is back in work preparing for the Melbourne Cup in November. Moudre was high in markets but failed to qualify for the Melbourne Cup last spring. He ran fourth to Maluckyday in the The Lexus Stakes (2500m).
