The trainer Ciaron Maher is appealing for jockey Jamie Spencer from the UK to take over the ride on Light Infantry Man at the Caulfield track.
Set for the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, Light Infantry Man has prompted Maher to connect with Spencer on whether he can ride the gelding.
Back in the UK, Spencer was Light Infantry Man’s go-to jockey and journeyed to Australia in 2022 for the gelding’s Golden Eagle effort at Rosehill.
Post-Golden Eagle, the gelding returned to Britain, where Spencer sustained their collaboration until Light Infantry Man’s Australian return for the 2023 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.
That time Zac Purton rode, joined by Australian pilots like Jason Collett, Craig Williams, Mark Zahra, John Allen, Blake Shinn, James McDonald, Chad Schofield, and Ethan Brown who have since piloted the gelding here.
Only McDonald and Brown, local to Australia, have notched wins aboard Light Infantry Man, with Brown’s two Group 1 successes including the previous year’s Australian Cup (2000m) conducted at Flemington.
Brown and Zahra face suspensions, McDonald heads to Sydney for weekend mounts, leading Maher to contact Spencer about availability.
“Ethan Brown’s suspended, Mark Zahra’s suspended, so I was talking to Jamie Spencer,” Maher said.
“I’ve still got to confirm that, but he knows the horse quite well.
“He rode the horse out here in the Golden Eagle and in a lot of Group 1 races in Europe, so it would be good if he came out, but we just need to firm that up.
“He is a quirky horse, and Ethan obviously gets on very well with him.
“He came through his first-up run in great order. He’s feeling great and doing everything right.
“It looks a nice race for him at weight-for-age over the 1800 metres.”
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