Another jockey currently riding in Australia will be lost to Mauritius when Daniel Stackhouse takes up a contract with the powerful Gujadhur yard.
Daniel Stackhouse – first ride on Saturday at the Champ de Mars
The 27 year old New Zealand-born jockey has four rides at Saturday’s meeting, his first being Cape Horn in the second race. He follows in footsteps of South African Robbie Fradd who recently also chose to ride on the Indian Ocean Island.
The Mauritius Turf Club reports that Stackhouse did his apprenticeship with Te Akau’s champion trainer Mark Walker, made his first big move in December 2010 when he left home on a two-week Australian scholarship with former Black Caviar trainer Peter Moody. He went again when Moody asked him to return for a longer stay the next year – and he hasn’t left Australia since.
After riding 119 winners in New Zealand, including 20 over fence, Stackhouse now boasts a handy record nearing 550 winners, mostly gained on the provincial Victorian circuit.
During the Moody era, Stackhouse landed a Gr3 win aboard There’s Only On in the Bellmaine Stakes at Caulfield in 2013. He also won the Gr3 G1x.com.au Stakes aboard Coronation Shallan for Brett Scott on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley in 2015.
After Moody quit training in 2016, Stackhouse continued to ride freelance and impress other trainers, including Lee Freedman for whom he won the Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington with Cool Chap in 2016.
He was again successful at the headquarters just last Saturday week when he shone in the Godolphin colours aboard Tarquin for James Cummings, edging off 2017 Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time.
“I don’t really know much about Mauritian horse racing other than what Steven Arnold, Noel Callow, James Winks, Damien Oliver, Daniel Moor and Vlad Duric recently briefed me about,” said Stackhouse.
“I’ve seen videos of the Champ de Mars track and it’s a pretty tight track. It shouldn’t pose any problem as I’ve ridden on similar tracks in Victoria like Hanging Rock and even in New Zealand, Hokitika and Greymouth on the West Coast.
“I’m going there with an open mind and will take it as it comes. I’m quite excited with this new adventure.”
