Mark Kavanagh doesn't know Hong Kong-based hoop Tim Clark but they will become good mates if Undeniably can win Saturday's Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Clark was the first on the phone for the ride on the $50 outsider when Stephen Baster was suspended last week. It made Kavanagh's job a little bit easier as he looks for the Newmarket-Australian Cup double on Saturday.
"I don't even know the guy but he rang for the ride, when Stephen got time," Kavanagh said. "He saw the run in the Oakleigh Plate and wanted to be on him, so you can't ask more than that. It was a very quickly made decision."
Kavanagh has only the two runners at Flemington and the promising Super Cool will attempt to become the first three-year-old since Saintly in 1996 to lift Melbourne's 2000-metre autumn weight-for-age grand final.
"The three-year-olds have generally run well in the Australian Cup without winning it [often]," Kavanagh said. "There is not a standout weight-for-age horse this year and that's what generally beats them.
"Green Moon looks a very good horse but he hasn't taken that step to weight-for-age yet, he might do that on Saturday.
"I think my bloke is going to be a pretty good horse come the spring and this is worth a go given the times they ran at Caulfield compared to the older horses.
"This will be it for him, he will go for a spell after Saturday."
Victoria Derby runner-up Super Cool was too strong for his Derby conqueror Fiveandahalfstar in the Autumn Classic a fortnight ago and the pair add to the mix of an even bunch of weight-for-age performers in Australian Cup.
Meanwhile, Clark arrives back in Australia with confidence after his first Hong Kong group 1 last month and is in the top five on jockey standings in the racing mecca.
Undeniably might be an outsider in the Newmarket but is a winner down the straight and it was his Oakleigh Plate run that convinced Clark to make the trip to Flemington.
"You don't make these decisions to come back to Australia just to make up the numbers," Clark said.
"You see when jockeys come over from Hong Kong they are usually on very competitive chances and I'm very aware of that.
"I thought [Undeniably's] Oakleigh Plate run was very good. He was three wide on the lead all the way and got overracing but still stuck on to run fourth.
"He gets a nice weight drop for the Newmarket and when the chance to ride one like him came along I wanted to throw my hat in the ring.
"Sometimes you think when you are in Hong Kong it can be out of sight, out of mind, so it's good to know that trainers still want to put you on in Australia."
Clark steered It Has To Be You to a surprise victory in the Hong Kong Classic Cup last month and he will ride the John Size-trained four-year-old in the Hong Kong Derby next week. "It has been a pretty good season up here and to get that group 1 was a real achievement," he said. "It just gives you that little bit more confidence and gets your name out there."
Clark flew out of Hong Kong after Wednesday's Happy Valley meeting and will spend a couple of days with his wife Jade and daughter Ellie before heading to Melbourne.
"It will be good to spend a couple of days with the girls and get my weight right before going to Melbourne," Clark said. "It's straight back to Hong Kong on Saturday night for Sunday's meeting."
He will have a handful of rides at Sha Tin, where Flying Ibis looks his best chance of a winner.