Queensland-based jockey Mark Du Plessis has answered the call of Cambridge trainer Chad Ormsby and will return to New Zealand this weekend to ride at Te Rapa.

“I am very excited to come back,” Du Plessis said. “It was a last-minute thing. Chad rang me and asked if I had anything in Brisbane on Saturday and I kind of didn’t, and he has a few runners and he has kindly offered to bring me over for the day, which is great.”

Born in Zimbabwe, Du Plessis began his riding career in his homeland, where he was crowned champion apprentice and champion jockey before immigrating to New Zealand in 1998.

Du Plessis spent the next 20 years plying his trade in New Zealand, which was interspersed with riding contracts in Asia, and he posted 867 wins, 80 of those at Group or Listed level, and earned more than $20.6 million in prizemoney.

“New Zealand racing has been the biggest and greatest steppingstone for me to ply my trade elsewhere and get good contracts in both Singapore and Hong Kong,” he said.

“I still know a lot of people there and it is going to be really exciting to see old faces and ride for people that supported me whilst I was there.”

Du Plessis had plenty of highlights while riding in New Zealand but rates his wins in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) as his most memorable.

“My first Group One win was in the Oaks for Sheila Laxon (with Tapildo in 2001),” he said.

“I had a bit of an infatuation with the Auckland Cup. I managed to win it three times (Bazelle in 2005, Prize Lady in 2007, and Rock Diva in 2015). I love that race and I love riding stayers.

“The last time I won the Auckland Cup was very special, for Tony Pike. Just the way it was done, it was really special. To be able to win a Group One for the Raffles team, that had always given me a lot of support, was great.”

Du Plessis then moved to Brisbane in 2018, where he has continued to enjoy plenty of success in the saddle, and he now calls Australia home.

“I came here (Queensland) once when I was a bit younger for one of the carnivals, I think it was 2007, and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “With contracts in Asia and that sort of thing I never really got back. When I came here in 2018, I didn’t think I would stay here permanently, but it has ended up that way, and I am pretty happy here.”

While enjoying life in Australia, Du Plessis is jumping at the opportunity to return to New Zealand this week, where he will have a full book of rides at Te Rapa on Saturday, including the Chad Ormsby-trained Master Fay in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m).

“The main reason to come over was to ride him in that race and see where he is at,” Du Plessis said. “He has a horror draw (17), with a big weight (59kg), but I know Chad is quietly excited about him resuming.”

Du Plessis is also looking forward to catching up with his family, including his son Cruze, who is intent on following his father’s footsteps into a career as a jockey, and he has been able to display his riding talent in the LOVERACING.NZ Pony Scurry Series over the last couple of years.

“He is really flying,” Du Plessis said. “There is no convincing him of any other career at this stage, so we will just support him 100 percent if and when he gets there. He has had another great year in the pony scurries and with showjumping as well. I will see him after the races. I think he is coming to the races after he goes to a show on Saturday.

“I will also go down to Waihi to see my sister and my folks for a couple of days, and then I have got to be back here (Brisbane) for the Wednesday races.”

While Saturday will be Du Plessis’ first time riding back in New Zealand in eight years, he is hoping it can act as a springboard to some more regular trips, particularly to some of the bigger meetings over the coming months.

“I would love to be able to come over for the bigger races,” he said. “It came about all very quickly this weekend, but it is always good to reconnect with people for races going forward, like the Karaka Millions and other races like that over summer.”