Rodd Could Be Perfect For Waterhouse Stable
Tuesday, 15 August 2006: Rodd gets the first of what could be a number of spring carnival opportunities for the Waterhouse stable when he rides talented mare Fumble in Saturday's $140,000 PremiereStakes at Rosehill.
Rodd arrived in Sydney two weeks ago to ride through the carnival until October when he will move on to Melbourne.
He has made a quick impact with wining rides for the John O'Shea stable and mounts for other leading trainers including Graeme Rogerson and Bart Cummings.
However Waterhouse could be the catalyst that influences Rodd to move to Sydney permanently.
Waterhouse recently went on record with her admiration for Rodd, rating him among the best three young riders in Australia beside Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman.
She arranged for Rodd to start riding trackwork for her at Randwick last week and that has quickly given him an early Group race opportunity for the leading trainer.
Rodd says he is happy to follow the carnival circuit around Australia but he could be the perfect fit for Waterhouse now she has indicated it may be time for her to anoint a number one stable jockey.
Waterhouse currently has a big pool of riding talent to draw on including Purton, Bowman, Danny Beasley, Glen Boss, Darren Beadman and Larry Cassidy.
Chris Munce left for Hong Kong last year as Waterhouse's number one but could not expect to walk straight back into that position when he is cleared to resume riding in Sydney.
The others have ties to other stables while Rodd comes to Sydney unshackled and placed to answer every call from Waterhouse, just as George Moore, Kevin Langby, Malcolm Johnston and Mick Dittman did in their time as stable jockeys for Tulloch Lodge under Tommy Smith.
Rodd's international experience in Hong Kong has made him a complete and polished rider with the ability and aura to make it big in Sydney.
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