Velazquez to Australia for Magic Millions Day

Jockey John Velazquez has competed at racetracks around the world during his Hall of Fame career, but the 44-year-old rider will be breaking new ground when he heads to Australia Jan. 2.

Velazquez is scheduled to ride on the nine-race Aus$10 million Jeep Magic Millions Raceday card Jan. 9 at Gold Coast in Queensland, the richest program in Australian history. The card includes the Aus$2 million 2YO Classic and Aus$2 million 3YO Guineas.

"I've never been there. It's a new place for me," Velazquez said between races Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park, where he capped the first month of the championship meet by winning the Sugar Swirl (gr. III) and W.L. McKnight (gr. IIIT) Dec. 26. "I'm looking forward to being there and getting to ride a couple horses. It will be exciting to be there and hopefully to ride a decent horse and win a race."

In the days leading up to Magic Millions Raceday, he and trainer Graham Motion will be on hand for the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, one of the country's top auctions, to promote stallion Animal Kingdom  , who shuttles between Darley's Jonabell Farm near Lexington and Arrowfield Stud in Australia. The son of Leroidesanimaux is represented by eight yearlings in Magic Millions' Books 1 and Book 2 of the Gold Coast sale.

Velazquez and Motion teamed to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I) with Animal Kingdom. 

"Winning the Kentucky Derby was very special, so just to be part of it and be invited to ride some horses will be great," Velazquez said of his impending engagement for Magic Millions Raceday. "It's a great time to go... To be part of it and part of all the Animal Kingdom babies going through the sales is exciting. It's a great time to be there."

Traveling with his son, Michael, Velazquez will arrive in Australia the morning of Jan. 4 and begin the 1 1/2-day trip back to South Florida Jan. 10. Agent David Raphael will be handling Velazquez's mounts while he is in Australia.

"I don't ride every race, so I'll get there early enough and watch a couple races and go from there. Like everywhere I go, everything is about preparation and homework, and seeing how the racetrack is playing and hopefully the horses respond," Velazquez said. "I try to adjust to whatever is around me. I have fun with these things. Every time I go somewhere I like to be part of it and learn from it."