Darren Gauci is hoping to celebrate his 45th birthday on Boxing Day with a win on the Mark Riley-trained Gold In Dubai in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.The three-time Melbourne premiership winning jockey burst on to the racing scene as an apprentice, winning the senior title in 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1985-86.But he has struggled to pick up rides from the leading stables in recent seasons since the split from the John Hawkes stable in 2005.Gauci has been unlucky not to win Australian racing's g
Darren Gauci is hoping to celebrate his 45th birthday on Boxing Day with a win on the Mark Riley-trained Gold In Dubai in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.
The three-time Melbourne premiership winning jockey burst on to the racing scene as an apprentice, winning the senior title in 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1985-86.
But he has struggled to pick up rides from the leading stables in recent seasons since the split from the John Hawkes stable in 2005.
Gauci has been unlucky not to win Australian racing's greatest prize three times, finishing runner-up in the Melbourne Cup aboard Chagemar (1984), Super Impose (1989), and On A Jeune (2005).
He was also beaten a short half-head on Congressman in the 1988 Caulfield Cup and by a nose aboard El Segundo in the 2006 Cox Plate.
But he has had his share of Group One successes including the 1991 Caulfield Guineas on Lonhro, 1990 Epsom Handicap on Super Impose, 2000 Doncaster Handicap on Over, 2001 Stradbroke Handicap on Crawl, 1995 Thousand Guineas on Shame and VRC Oaks on Taj Eclipse (1983) and Tributes (1999).
He also won the 2005 Caulfield Stakes and 2006 Underwood Stakes aboard El Segundo.
Gauci hasn't previously ridden Gold In Dubai in a race, picking up the mount in the Listed 1200m event after Damien Oliver was suspended on a careless riding charge on the gelding at his latest appearance.
That was at Flemington when runner-up to King Hoaks over 1200m on December 11.
His previous outing was in Tasmania when Brad Rawiller rode him into second place, beaten a head by Obstinado in the Listed Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Launceston on November 18.
"He's racing well without much luck and I'm happy to have picked up the ride on him," Gauci, who has ridden just two winners in Melbourne so far this season from 60 rides, said.
"I think he's one of the better chances in what looks a highly-competitive race."
Gold In Dubai is a dual 1200m winner at Caulfield having won the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes as a two-year-old in May 2008 and another as a three-year-old 12 months later.
After running second to Glam Slam in the AR Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in June last year he returned from a spell in last year's Christmas Stakes, finishing fifth to Here De Angels after trying to lead all the way with Mark Pegus in the saddle.
The Desert Sun five-year-old goes into the event having had five runs this preparation, including a 1250m Rating 0-86 win four starts back at Morphettville on September 26.
Gold In Dubai, one of five mounts Gauci has on Sunday, is at $9 with TAB Sportsbet which has Miss Octopussy and Offenders as $5 equal favourites.