Sirbible will be bidding to win the Group 2 Australia Stakes under lights at The Valley (Image: Racing Photos)
Timing is crucial in racing and Russell Bell figures he has got the mix just right for retiring jockey Darren Gauci and his flying galloper Sirbible to cause an upset in Friday night's Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Bell said on Wednesday that Gauci's retirement announcement 24 hours earlier had nothing to do with his booking of the jockey for Sirbible, but said that he'd always wanted the legendary rider to partner the horse.
"He's got beautiful soft hands and I always thought that he'd really suit this horse and when we decided to go for the Valley race, we thought we'd give him a call," Bell said.
"His retirement had nothing to do with it really, but it is great to have a jockey like him riding our horse.
"He's never ridden him before but I reckon he'll do a great job and he'll look the winner at some stage of the race."
WATCH: Sirbible's win at The Valley in November
Gauci, 51, announced on Tuesday that his 37-year career as a jockey would be over early next month. Gauci has just the one ride at Moonee Valley and has not scored a ride at the stakes meetings at Caulfield on Thursday and Flemington on Saturday.
Bell had originally accepted for the sprinter to run for Gauci over the 1400m journey at Caulfield on Thursday in the John Dillon Stakes, but he said that the inside barrier four at his favourite track of Moonee Valley was the tipping point.
"That draw means he can get along and make his own luck and that's when he races his best," Bell said.
"We are meeting a lot of fresh horses who might not be as sharp as him so we're looking for the horse to run really well.
"We'd be pretty happy with a top-five finish."
Sirbible last ran at Canterbury in Sydney when he finished near the tail, but Bell said the horse was bumped during the race and emerged from it with a knock on his leg and a half-displaced shoe.
"He ran really well before that (third in listed Razor Sharp Stakes at Randwick) and he's done well since he's come home (Colac) so we're looking for a big run from him."