The Palmerston North jockey flew to Melbourne on Thursday to partner the Lisa Latta-trained Manhattan Street in Friday night's Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Riddell will then fly back to New Zealand later on Friday night to be back in time to take eight rides at Hastings on Saturday, including Manhattan Street's stablemate Platinum Command in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
Riddell, 38, is no stranger to riding in Australia, having ridden at carnival time in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the past, most notably teaming up with Jimmy Choux for his Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas win and Gr.1 Cox Plate second placing.
"It's the first time I've ridden in both New Zealand and Australia on consecutive days, but I've ridden in Australia plenty of times before and it really doesn't faze me," Riddell said.
"I actually told the owners of Manhattan Street to put an Australian
jockey on, but Neville [McAlister, part-owner] wanted to stick with me so I'm
happy to go over and do a job for them."Riddell has done a good job on Manhattan Street already, having ridden the Manhattan Rain colt in all but one of his four starts, for two wins and a second placing.
That second placing was to fellow Gr.1 Victoria Derby hopeful Highlad in the Listed Wanganui Guineas, which followed his previous start win in the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki.
"He's only ever been beaten by Highlad and they've taken that horse to Melbourne. Murray Baker knows what he's doing when he takes one to Australia and we're taking a line through that," Riddell said.
"The owners are basically just having a crack. If he goes no good, then he'll come straight home, but there's no reason why he shouldn't go all right.
"I'd love to see him smash them. He doesn't need to win to press on, but he'd want to be finishing on. These aren't the real guns and he'd want to show something to warrant stepping up again."
Should Manhattan Street produce a bold performance on Friday, he would add depth to a New Zealand challenge for the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 29 that already includes Sacred Elixir and Highlad.
"He's settled in really well over there and his work on Monday was very good," Riddell said.
"I watched it on Youtube. He worked without blinkers, but he does go better with the hood on and he'll wear the hood on Friday."
Riddell was looking forward to getting back for the 'money day' at Hastings on Saturday.
"Platinum Command was only a late thought with the forecast of rain. They were just going to the weight-for-age race at Hawera, but she's fit and she's going really good races," he said.
"She's just been getting too far back and it's been frustrating to watch. She's copped a couple of bad rides."
Riddell will also ride the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Jon Snow in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) and Taurus in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m).
His other rides are Lincoln Bay, Talk The Torque, Bob'sthejob, Master Platinum and O'Reilly's Dancer. - NZ Racing Desk.
