Racing: Sword Of Osman in groove

Sword Of Osman (inner) holds out Qiji Express at Te Rapa. Photo / Trish Dunell

Former top juvenile Sword Of Osman was back in the winning groove at Te Rapa where he took out the group two James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) with a bold front-running performance.

A group one winner during his 2-year-old season, the Savabeel gelding had been slow to find his feet with two unplaced efforts before yesterday's much-improved showing.

Aided by an inch-perfect ride by Opie Bosson, Sword Of Osman dictated the speed throughout before repelling a strong challenge in the run home by Qiji Express, who failed by just a nose to topple the winner. Race favourite Madison County, the stablemate of the runner-up, finished third.

Trainer Jamie Richards, who prepares the gelding for the Te Akau Great Sword syndicate, admitted he wasn't sure if his charge had got the victory until the judge declared the result of the photo-finish. "I wasn't sure but I watched it with David [Ellis] and he said don't give up just yet.

"A big thanks to the team at home who look after him and have done a good job to get him back on track.

"It mapped like he might get it soft enough [in front] but that's probably up to his peak in terms of distance.

"It was a lovely ride by Opie, who rides him in all his gallops. He is such an important part of our team so I'm really thrilled for him."

Richards confirmed Sword Of Osman will next contest the group one Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 10.

"We'll sit down now and make some plans as we will have three or four in the Guineas," he said.

Sword Of Osman now sits on the second line of betting on the TAB Fixed Odds market at a $7 quote, a price he shares with stablemate Our Flying Ace behind favourite Madison County who remains steady at $2.80.

• The talented Rhinestone Cowboy was on his best behaviour at Te Rapa yesterday to land his first career win.

The headstrong Teofilo 4-year-old had finished third at his only start as a 3-year-old before being put aside to mature further by trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

Set to resume on the last day of the Hawke's Bay spring carnival, Rhinestone Cowboy put on a display of buck-jumping and the like that saw him scratched at the barrier.

Supporters held their breath yesterday but he was a picture of concentration as he fashioned a fine victory despite sitting wide for most of the 1400m contest.

"He's a very good horse although he's been in the buck-jumping ring," Baker said. "He did everything right today and he's got that sort of ability.

"He was well behaved and I think he is a fair horse in the making.

"We'll just pick out a 1600m race for him next and go from there."

Raced by Lindsay de Souza, Willie Leung and Neville Murdoch, Rhinestone Cowboy carries the same colours as Turn Me Loose, whose seven wins included three group one victories. NZ Racing Desk