Highly rated Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson has plenty of time to recover from a severe viral infection before teaming up again with Gingernuts to chase a second Caulfield Cup win during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Opie Bosson and Gingernuts, above, combine to win the 2017 Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bosson was stood down from riding at Doomben last Saturday after only one ride when he became ill and had to forego a terrific book of rides which included three highly rated chances in the three Group 1 races on the program, the J.J. Atkins, the Queensland Derby and the Stradbroke Handicap.
Fortunately for Bosson and not so good for Matamata co-trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards was that odds on favourite Melody Belle struggled into tenth place for replacement rider Damian Lane behind Capital Gain in the Group 1 $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) while Damian Browne’s pick up ride, the well fancied Shocking Luck, was also well beaten when eleventh in the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m).
Bosson was also booked to ride Counterattack for Chris Waller in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and the four year old ran a mighty race for Leith Innes to finish fourth to Impending.
“I felt terrible. It was disappointing to miss those rides but there was no way I could have ridden,” Bosson told NZ Racing Desk.
Bosson will now sit out the rest of the season to recuperate and will be fully fit to partner the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards trainer Gingernuts in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21.
Bosson has had three rides on Gingernuts for two Group 1 wins and he is hoping the rising four year old will be able to give him his second Caulfield Cup win after he collected the trophy on Mongolian Khan during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Gingernuts with Bosson in the saddle won the Group 1 NZ$1m New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 4 and then made it two Group 1 wins in succession with his victory in the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 18.
The Iffraaj gelding was then sent out as the $2.60 favourite for the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 1 but could only manage to finish fifth to fellow Kiwi three year old Jon Snow.
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2017 Caulfield Cup has Gingernuts sharing favouritism at $17 with Multiple Group 1 winner Hartnell, Australian Oaks winner Bonneval and Australian Cup winner Humidor.
Early market order for the 2017 Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $17 Gingernuts, Bonneval, Hartnell, Humidor, $21 Articus, Egg Tart, Fame Game, Our Century, Ruthven, $26 Bondi Beach, Big Duke, Crocodile Rock, Exospheric, Francis Of Assisi, Scottish, Varizabad, Yankee Rose, $34 or better the rest.
