Patrick Moloney will take the reins on Alaskan God in the G2 Perth Cup (2400m) on January 1 after trainer Dan Morton made the shock decision to replace, Chris Parnham.
Parnham, Perth’s champion jockey for the past two seasons, has ridden Alaskan God in nine of his 10 races and led the gelding to all five career wins including the G2 WA Derby (2400m) in April.
A month earlier in Melbourne Moloney celebrated his biggest success to date after winning the G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington with rank outsider, Roch ‘N’ Horse.
The 29-year-old said the call to ride Alaskan God was unexpected and a bolt out of the blue, but one that he was certainly keen to accept.
“I got the call on Boxing Day and was pretty quick to jump at the opportunity,” Patrick Moloney said on Tabradio.
“It’s a really good opportunity for someone like myself to go over there and showcase my abilities.
“I rode in Perth about nine years ago in an apprentice race at Ascot, just making up the numbers.
“It’s been a while between drinks in coming over to the west, but I’m looking forward to riding on one of your premier stakes days.”
After displaying star qualities as a three-year-old last season, Alaskan God’s Pinnacles carnival has been mixed.
The son of Playing God resumed first-up with a slashing sixth behind Treasured Star in the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m).
He ran 10th in the Railway Stakes (1600m) and 8th in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) when reeling off the quickest last 600m.
A week later in the Towton Cup (2200m) he finished fourth as warm favourite after running on from near last position.
Moloney says Alaskan God’s form reads better than what it appears and he expects big improvement from him stepping up to 2400m.
“I think he’s had a beautiful building preparation towards the Perth Cup,” Moloney said.
“He hasn’t had any real gut buster runs by any means.
“He just looks like he is crying out for that 2400m trip.
“He’s forever making ground and getting back in awkward slowly run races that haven’t been run to suit for those back markers.
“He’s been running strongly through the line and he’s proven at the trip.
“It looks a really nice race for him and hence why he’s the favourite, the punters haven’t missed him.”
Alaskan God heads TABtouch betting at $4, A.T.A. Stakes winner Truly Inspired is $5.50, Buster Bash and Queen Aline are both $7.50 and Neufbosc $8.
Parnham will partner Stafford’s Lad, a stable mate of Alaskan God, in the Perth Cup. A winner of the Boulder Cup-Kalgoorlie Cup double in September and October, he’s currently rated a $19 chance.
Alaskan God has drawn barrier 13 in the Perth Cup and Stafford’s Lad will jump from barrier 2.
Alaskan God and Stafford’s Lad are on the 53kg minimum.
Veteran nine-year-old, Trap For Fools, carries the 58kg topweight.