SYDNEY - Glen Boss is on standby to ride New Zealand favourite Giovana in next week's $A800,000 Sydney Cup at Randwick if regular jockey Chris Munce's appeal against suspension does not succeed.
Munce yesterday lodged an appeal against a three-week suspension for careless riding in the early stages of Saturday's $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap, which he won on Assertive Lad.
An appeal hearing is expected this week and, if he fails, Munce will miss six major meetings, including Sydney Cup day on April 28.
Giovana's New Zealand trainer Roger James said he had prepared a select list of jockeys for the mare's owners to approve as a standby rider and Boss was first choice. Boss became available when Sky Heights was declared a non-runner for the cup after his recent disappointing form.
Munce is in fine form, winning three races at Randwick on Monday.
Thoroughbred Racing Board stewards charged Munce with careless riding when he crossed from his wide barrier to the rails at the 1200m mark when insufficiently clear.
"I dropped my hands for a stride and crowded him, but his horse was pulling hard, it wasn't going to take much for it to happen," said Munce.
Giovana, who placed at weight-for-age in the Ranvet Stakes then the Mercedes Classic on her first two Sydney starts, again ran with merit for second to Steel Phoenix in the $A500,000 Chairman's Handicap on Saturday.
She worked bravely under 56kg and was to drop to 52kg for the Sydney Cup. However, she may face a weight rise brought on automatically if Pasta Express and New Zealand's Hill of Grace, both on 53kg, are left as topweights at declaration time. Race conditions require a 55.5kg minimum topweight.
- NZPA
Racing: Boss stands by for Giovana
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