Leading New Zealand rider Opie Bosson was enjoying a leisurely start to the day in Melbourne on Sunday after not quite getting the results he was looking for on the first day of the massive Melbourne Cup Carnival 24 hours earlier.
Bosson took four rides at Flemington on Saturday with his best result being a fifth-placed finish on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Alcohol Free in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), with his other mounts finishing towards the rear despite his best efforts.
“It was a shame I couldn’t get a result but sometimes that is how it can go,” Bosson said.
“Alcohol Free was my best and she was very honest in running fifth although she didn’t quite finish it off like I had hoped.
“It was a fairly hectic pace and she was off the nickel most of the way.
“I think Gai is going to give her a break now, but in her next campaign I can see her running out a strong mile or even 2000m.
“I also rode Gold Bullion for Gai and Adrian in the Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) but he never really travelled and was feeling the ground so he had his excuses.”
While he couldn’t post a winner, Bosson is keen to rectify that on the Mark Walker-trained Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday.
“She (Skew Wiff) has got a tricky barrier draw (12) on Tuesday but I think she can definitely be very competitive,” Bosson said.
“She finished sixth last time after missing her first run when she was late scratched so it was six weeks between runs and she ran out of puff a little.
“I would think Mark has worked her along since then and she should be spot on for Tuesday.
“I really haven’t done the form for the race yet, that is a job for this evening or tomorrow (Monday) but at her best she can give the race a decent shake.”
Bosson will fly back to New Zealand on Tuesday night before returning to Melbourne on Friday to prepare to ride star sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the A$3million Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the last day of the Carnival.
He is leaving nothing to chance for the race including enlisting the services of a former champion jockey to give him some pointers on negotiating the intricacies of the unique straight course 1200m dash.
“Imperatriz has been flying so it is exciting to get to ride her again in such a prestigious race,” he said.
“While I have been doing this for a few years now there is always a special feeling when you mount up on the big racedays.
“I tend to block out the crowd noise and all that and contrate on my job but with this mare doing such amazing things there will always be a little more pressure on the day.
“I’m actually heading to Flemington to walk the track with Glen Boss and I will be picking his brain about how best to negotiate the unique straight six at Flemington as I don’t want to leave anything to chance.
“Imperatriz is right where Mark wants her and she is feeling so well she has tried to buck me off heading to the start for her last two races.
“It’s a trait she has had since she was a youngster and it is a good sign as I take it to be her telling me to concentrate and hang on!”
