That Opie Bosson has the talent to succeed in Australia is not in question.
What is in question is how good the contract would need to be to provide him with the springboard to showcase that talent.
Bosson reacted positively yesterday to the loose quote by Queensland journalists that he would like to settle in Australia when he finishes his apprenticeship on July 24.
"If an outstanding contract was offered, I'd be very interested, but at this stage I would like to complete another year riding in New Zealand," said Bosson.
Sound thinking and there is clearly some good advice coming from his mentor Stephen Autridge.
It's easy to glamourise winning the Wakeful Stakes-VRC Oaks double on the Eric Watson-owned, Graeme Rogerson-trained Grand Archway at Flemington 18 months ago, but the harsh reality of Australian racing is that no one has a memory.
A jockey is as good as their last winner. History and yesterday's results don't rate with tomorrow's winners.
Australian jockeys drive Mercedes, but, particularly in Sydney, they have to contend with the "what's hot" factor.
End a three-month losing streak with three poorly-ridden winners and you're the next Derby Munro.
Win three premierships then go winless for a week and you're a has-been.
That's tough, but the positive is that it keeps standards incredibly high.
The protective shield of armour is a contract with an outstanding stable.
When Darren Beadman decided to let racing back into his life alongside God and return to riding in January, he elected to freelance.
Beadman is one of the world's great riders, but he hasn't exactly been embarrassed by a rush of opportunity.
If Beadman strikes a bad patch of form, the owners and trainers have all the memories of his greatness to reassure them he will bounce back and he can be supported with rides.
When a Kiwi jockey, trying to break in, strikes the same bad patch there are no such memories and they are quickly dismissed as not good enough.
It's all about opportunity rather than talent.
Bosson will end up in Australia, but the quality of his contract will determine the quality of his reputation.
* * *
Showella's demise from Saturday's $A800,000 Sydney Cup throws up yet again how crucial luck is in racing.
The bruised heel which pulled Showella out of the group one feature had a level of severity which could have seen the decision go either way.
In fact, trainer Frank Ritchie felt a level of confidence even after the phone call to advise stewards of the problem.
But they take their obligation to punters very seriously in Sydney and when the stewards' vet arrived at the stables, withdrawal was the pronounced favourite.
Showella would have taken a huge amount of beating.
And she should have won the $A1 million Mercedes Classic, being beaten by a million-to-one rails run by Tie The Knot. Had Tie The Knot not received that run, Showella would not have ended up being squeezed late between the winner and Arena and would have edged ahead of Arena.
That's racing, but the fact the combined winning stakes of the Mercedes and Sydney Cup were $A1.1 million is a migraine for Ritchie and owner Terry Archer.
* * *
New Zealand Bloodstock has announced plans to stage a mixed bloodstock sale at Wanganui on May 28 in conjunction with Steve Davis.
"The idea is to provide a low-cost alternative to owners and breeders in regional areas," said NZ Bloodstock marketing manager Julia Naismith.
"We understand it may not always be financially viable to transport horses to, and sell, at Karaka."
Entries close for the Wanganui Racecourse sale on May 16.
New Zealand Bloodstock's National weanling, broodmare and mixed sale is at Karaka next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Racing: Talent only one element for Aust. success
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.