Katie Walsh will headline an elite team of Irish riders to take on Australia’s best in an international jumps racing challenge at Sportsbet-Ballarat on Sunday.
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Walsh, the most successful female jockey in Aintree Grand National history in England, is in Australia for the first time since 2008 Challenge at the invitation of Racing Victoria to specifically ride in Ballarat.
She will partner Australian-based Irishmen John Allen, who is a stable rider for Ballarat trainer Darren Weir, Shane Jackson and Martin Kelly in the three-race series
Australia will be represented by eight-time Tommy Corrigan Medallist Steve Pateman, Brad McLean, Braidon Small and Paul Hamblin.
The challenge takes in the QLS Maiden Hurdle, 3400m; Hygain Maiden Hurdle, 3400m; and Hygain Steeplechase, 3200m.
Australia has proven a happy hunting ground for Walsh, who registered two wins, three seconds and a third from six Australian rides.
These include victory aboard the Patrick Payne-trained galloper Hoplite in a steeplechase at Moonee Valley.
Walsh said she was thrilled to be selected to represent the Emerald Isle in the challenge, as well as having an opportunity to chase Grand National Steeplechase success only 12 months after her older brother Ruby partnered Bashboy to a famous win in the classic in Ballarat.
She is riding Crisp Steeplechase winner I’ll’ava’alf for trainer Patrick Ryan in the $350,000 event.
“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s been a long time since I first visited back in 2008,” Walsh said.
“To win the Grand National (Steeplechase) would be absolutely brilliant.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride the winner of an Irish Grand National and ridden in an English Grand National a couple of times and have finished third in that.
“It’s an honour to come over and ride in this race and I really appreciate the rides I’m getting.”
Top weight Wells, trained by Kathryn Durden and to be ridden by Richard Cully, is chasing a second Grand National Steeplechase after winning the 2014 edition of the feature.
Wells, which finished third to Sea King in the Mosstrooper Steeplechase at Bendigo last month, did not race for almost two years after Grand National victory.
He returned in March and has been in the placings in his latest four starts – a sequence launched by a second in the Australian Steeple.
Patrick Payne has three runners engaged, including Grand Annual Steeplechase winner No Song No Supper, Zed Em and Slowpoke Rodriguez.
