The Kiwi connection of Mark Walker and Opie Bosson have prevailed in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, as Bosson piloted the Group 1 winning mare Skew Wiff (+500) to victory in the penultimate race of the day at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
After getting no luck at her previous start in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, the daughter of Savabeel got all the favours today on-speed, as Bosson kept her on the outside of runners and got into the three-wide running line on the home turn.
By the time the field hit the 300m mark, all her rivals were off the bit and Bosson was yet to release the brakes on his mount, as she coasted up to the leaders by the 200m mark.
Skew Wiff hit top gear at the 150m mark to move clear and had the race shot to bits before Foxy Cleopatra (+4000) flew home to raise a challenge, but the margin was too great for the eventual winner, and she held for a soft victory.
2023 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Replay – Skew Wiff | T: Mark Walker | J: Opie Bosson
With Mark Walker in New Zealand, Ben Glesson spoke on behalf of the winning stable.
“It’s huge, obviously for Waikato, huge supporters of New Zealand racing and Te Akau racing and Mark (Walker),” Gleeson said of the win.
“So to have a winner for them on Cup day with such a good mare who now picks up black type in Australia.
“Huge thrill and it just shows Te Akau’s here, we don’t just have the one horse to represent us, so a big thrill.
“It shows everyone that we’re willing to train for everyone and we’re more than just the tangerine.
“It was a gun ride, that’s why he’s the equivalent of the G.O.A.T in New Zealand, to get the three-wide trail, she’s a filly that tends to be, if she’s left alone and gets a bit of cover she’s got an electrifying finish.
“You could see he was trying to keep the three-wide trail and hold her as much as he could but he knows the filly so well and to come over for just her today shows the opinion he has of her.
“She hasn’t had the ideal preparation obviously with that barrier mishap but we’re hoping to get her to the Rupert Clarke, which is obviously in a week-and-a-half time so we’ll see how she comes through the run but 1400 metres at Caulfield will be right up her alley.”
Opie Bosson picked up his first winner on Melbourne Cup Day, and he spoke post-race.
“She travelled beautifully, travelled nicely on the bridle and it was just a matter of holding her up and getting there at the right time in this big long straight,” Bosson said.
“I was caught three-deep but we had cover. I was quite happy there and she traveled underneath me beautifully.
“Full credit to whoever sorted her out, she’s a little angel in the gates now so it was pretty good really.
“It is good to see that they’ve straightened out a few of those quirks she’s got and she’s doing everything right now.
“She’s so much more laid back and I think twice about even moving.”
Skew Wiff is now a +1200 chance in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes futures market with online bookmakers.
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