Brad Rawiller will be the new rider for Perth star Marasco who is a surprise acceptor for Saturday's Group Two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
William Pike, who rode Marasco in the Railway Stakes, committed himself to Hips Don't Lie believing Marasco would go on to the Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) a week later.
But trainer Fred Kersley has opted to run Marasco against superstar sprinters Takeover Target and Apache Cat in the 1200m feature.
Rawiller was released from the ride on outsider Surprise Impact who will now be partnered by Troy Turner.
"I have been released from the ride on Surprise Impact," Rawiller told Perth's Track Talk.
"It is never nice to be released from rides but these circumstances warranted that I try and ride one of the best horses in the state.
"Marasco is a great horse and it is flattering to be asked to ride him.
"He had no luck in the Railway Stakes and Fred Kersley has freshened horses up before to drop back in distance.
"It will be great to have such a good ride in a race like this, with wonderful horses like Takeover Target and Apache Cat being involved."
Jay Ford will arrive in Perth on Wednesday ahead of reuniting with Takeover Target who is the $2.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
Apache Cat, an inexplicable failure in the Patinack Farm Classic, is at $3 with local Danny Beau at $5.
A half-brother to champion sprinting mare Miss Andretti, Danny Beau broke her 1200m Ascot record when he won the Colonel Reeves on November 15.
Marasco, who has won seven races over 1200 metres, is a $9 chance with Hips Don't Lie at $18 the only other runner under $20.
