Leith Innes has climbed off well-fancied Stolen Thunder to ride the filly Santagostino in the $700,000 Mercedes Derby.
Innes rode Stolen Thunder into third in Saturday's $100,000 Championship Stakes. Santagostino won the Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan said he had yet to
replace Innes, but yesterday spoke with Mark Du Plessis and Michael Walker.
The stable also produced Benedict to finish second in the Championship Stakes.
"Andrew [Scott] and I are going into the race knowing we don't have the No 1 or No 2 chances, but we have two horses in the first five chances and if one of those above them have bad luck then who knows.
"The Australian horse was very impressive winning yesterday.
"If he goes into the Derby in the same condition and gets the same luck, he's going to win it."
* * *
Darci Brahma's book of broodmares has been set at 130 and less than 40 will be available to the public. His 2007 spring stud fee will be $30,000.
"The 40 shares have two nominations each then there is 10 services for standing rights and one or two others," said Rick Williams manager of The Oaks where Darci Brahma will stand.
"His book will be full this week - we've had an unbelievable response.
"We're looking forward to him getting here tomorrow."
* * *
What a ride by Opie Bosson to get Luckshan home first on Saturday.
Some riders would have pulled out of the half gap Bosson found himself in with Luckshan at the 350m, but Bosson kept pushing and eventually the pair burst through and away.
Luckshan, who had to be tube fed to keep him alive as a young horse, is one of the most improved horses around.
Bosson had no chance of getting down to Luckshan's $700,000 Skycity Auckland Cup weight of 53kg and the Waikato stayer will be ridden by Darryl Bradley. Bosson is confirmed for Envoy.
* * *
With Darci Brahma retired Bosson will ride stablemate Shikoba in Saturday's $150,000 Otaki Maori WFA.
Shikoba was promoted to first at Ellerslie on Saturday after a protest she was not involved in.
She was narrowly beaten, but almost certainly would have won had she run straight in the closing stages.
It may not have looked a sparkling effort but she was badly inconvenienced by a ridiculously slow pace, which forced Bosson to allow the mare to slide around the field mid-race.
