Top Kiwi rider returns home with dire warning
Zimbabwean-born, Kiwi international riding success story Mark du Plessis has returned home but issued a dire warning about the state of racing in his homeland.
Du Plessis's decision to head back to New Zealand after tasting plenty of success in Hong Kong over the past season has bucked the trend of local participants.
A host of Kiwi trainers including Bjorn Baker, Craig Ritchie and John Sargent have or are setting up base in NSW chasing the rich prizemoney on offer.
Champion rider James McDonald has spent a large part of 2012 riding in Australia and Hong Kong while many of New Zealand’s best horses continue to be snapped up by rich Asian buyers or transferred to Australian trainers with owners again looking to cash in on Australian prizemoney levels.
"It's great to be back. New Zealand will always be home to me, I've been here a long time now,â€