Champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan will be cheering on fellow hoop Thomas Russell at the Bay of Plenty Racing Club's meeting at Tauranga today.
O'Sullivan's interest in the performance of the promising Woodville apprentice will centre on the DB Draught Open, the first leg of the TAB double in which Russell will ride the topweight For The Roses.
O'Sullivan was successful aboard For The Roses last start at Tauranga, but his interest is more than as a former rider of the mare.
His wife Bridgette races the Deputy Governor four-year-old in partnership with Barry and Roy Purdon and Lance's father Dave and brother Paul.
For The Roses has won four of her 17 starts and today will be chasing a hat-trick of wins.
Russell was aboard For The Roses when she won at Matamata on December 13, but Lance O'Sullivan took over the reins last start when the mare scored comfortably at the Tauranga meeting on December 30.
The DB Draught Open is confined to apprentice riders and that allows Russell another opportunity on the Paul O'Sullivan-trained mare.
For The Roses will clash against similar opposition which she has beaten recently and her clear topweight of 60kg will be reduced 1kg by the allowance claimed by Russell.
"She'll still end up topweight, but she's up to winning again," Lance O'Sullivan said.
For The Roses' main opposition in the DB Draught Open should come from Bia Desert and Famous Entrant.
Bia Desert, the mount of Michael Walker, needed his run first-up at Stratford and is better-suited to the 1600m of this contest.
Famous Entrant has been racing in tougher company and rates a strong chance.
- NZPA
Racing: For The Roses sweet for Tauranga
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