Kiwi jockey Masa Hashizume will step onto the Flemington turf for the first time this weekend when he attempts to qualify Trav for the Melbourne Cup.
The 29-year-old hoop partnered the Raymond Connors-trained six-year-old to a memorable victory in the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie in March, and the Manawatu horseman has stuck with Hashizume ever since.
The pair have recorded two fourth placings in their two appearances together this season, including an eye-catching effort out wide at Ellerslie a fortnight ago.
Hashizume was rapt with Trav’s effort, and he got a welcome surprise when Connors offered him the ride in Australia, and he immediately accepted.
“I knew he was going to try to go to the Melbourne Cup, but I didn’t expect him to ask me to come to Melbourne with him,” Hashizume said.
Hashizume will head to Melbourne on Saturday to ride Trav in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m), an important lead-in race to the Melbourne Cup, with the victor gaining an automatic spot in the $10 million feature.
Not only will it be Hashizume’s first look at the iconic track, it will also be his first time riding in Australia, a challenge he is looking forward to.