WELLINGTON - Matamata jockey Opie Bosson could burst out of boom apprentice Michael Walker's shadow at Hastings today.
Bosson has been overtaken as the pinup boy of New Zealand racing by Walker, but a promising book of rides in the three group three features at Hastings gives him a chance to recapture the headlines.
Bosson will ride Vulpix in the $40,000 Hawkes Bay Guineas 1400m), unbeaten Mine d'Or in the $40,000 Highview Stakes (1600m) and top mare Integrate in the $100,000 Challenge Stakes (1600m).
Bosson said that he "probably" wasn't riding as well as he was two years ago but in his defence he didn't feel he was getting the quality mounts.
"You need the horses and I haven't had them, but things are picking up a bit now," he said.
"It was good to get the nod for Japan [international riders challenge], that's something."
Bosson is particularly excited about Vulpix's prospects in the Guineas. He had the option of riding the Snippets colt or his stablemate Grey Friar but is confident he has pulled the right rein.
Vulpix led up and was beaten a nose by Willie Capone at Hastings on August 26, but tomorrow the Graeme Rogerson-Keith Hawtin barn want him ridden in behind from his handy barrier of six.
"I think he is a smart horse and a big chance," Bosson said.
"Hopefully we can trail and get over the top of them."
Integrate produced a huge effort to run fourth-equal in the Mudgway Stakes at Hastings on August 26, but the performance was overshadowed by the stunning fresh-up win of Cent Home.
Integrate came from near last and was taking ground off all her rivals.
There is no Cent Home today and Bosson said he wouldn't want to be on anything else.
"It was a really good run last time and she should be hard to beat," he said.
"We are going to try and ride her a wee bit handier and see if that helps."
Cheiron and Cinder Bella are likely to dispute favouritism with Integrate on the next line of betting. The Message could be the forgotten runner after failing in the Mudgway, but the 7-year-old had an excuse when jockey Linda Ballantyne was injured when she struck the barrier at the jump. He then finished second behind The Blazer over 1600m at Wanganui a week later.
The Roger James-trained Spring Rain will start a warm favourite in the Highview but has barrier No 16 to contend with.
Bosson said Mine d'Or, trained by his former boss Stephen Autridge, had been working well since a second placing to Kingdom Come at the Te Teko trials on August 9.
Mine d'Or has won both her raceday starts. Yesterday the Hastings track was rated firm (2.4 pentrometer reading) and is expected to remain that way.
- NZPA
Racing: Vulpix to head Bosson's assault on group races
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