Peter Mertens heads north to take ride on Panko in Gosford Cup - NEWS.com.au

ALL SMILES: Jockey Peter Mertens. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

VICTORIAN jockey Peter Mertens has never been to Gosford and knows even less about a horse called Panko.

But the experienced rider trusts his good friend David Atkins and that is the reason he is making the trip to ride the Newcastle trainer's horse in Thursday's Gosford Cup.

Mertens' association with Atkins stems from former popular galloper Impaler, who he was due to ride in the 2006 Stradbroke Handicap, only for the horse to miss out on a start in the feature Brisbane Group 1.

"I was committed to travelling up and riding Impaler but it didn't work out so David said he would look after me," Mertens said.

"I ended up riding him in the Eye Liner and then won on him again in the Canterbury Classic.

"We struck up a friendship over that, I don't get to see him that often but he is a riper bloke and as good a trainer.

"I know he wouldn't ask me to come up and ride it unless he thought it was a genuine chance in the race."

Jim Cassidy has ridden Panko in her past two starts but is currently taking a short holiday.

Panko's form might not look as fashionable as Ironstein, Reuben Percival, Fiumicino or Moriarty but her last start win at Canterbury proved the lightly raced mare is a stayer on the rise.

"My manager (Warren Huntley) explained to me how well she won off a slow pace last start," Mertens said.

"Obviously she can stay really well and she has a strong turn of foot."

A field of 13 accepted for the $125,000 race while fields for the Takeover Target Stakes and Belle Of The Turf Stakes will be declared today.

Panko will carry the minimum weight of 54kg but is harshly treated according to Mertens considering Fiumicino, a winner of more than $3 million in prizemoney, has only 58.5kg.

"In the old days a horse like this would be getting in with 51kg and we would be able to ride a race to test those with the big weight. It makes it harder when the minimum is up but like I said, David wouldn't ring me for no reason," he said.