Racing: Weighty choice for Bosson

Sword of Osman has serious rivals in the Sistema Stakes on Saturday. Photo / Race Images

Opie Bosson's Group One hopes in the two-year-old feature at Ellerslie will rest with Sword Of Osman, although it's not strictly by choice.

The top jockey will partner the last-start winner in Saturday's Sistema Stakes (1200m), in which he will be opposed by his unbeaten stablemate Avantage and The Real Beel.

"Opie's struggling a bit with his weight so he'll ride the boy, Matt Cameron will be on Avantage and Danielle Johnson will ride The Real Beel," said Jamie Richards, who trains with Stephen Autridge.

"Sword Of Osman and Avantage worked nicely this morning and with a good barrier and a bit of luck The Real Beel is certainly up to the other two."

Bosson guided Sword Of Osman to an effortless victory in the Gr.3 Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m) at Matamata while he has ridden Avantage in two of her four wins, including the Karaka Million (1200m).

The Real Beel has won once from three appearances and last time out she finished third in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m).

Meanwhile, domestic Group One winners Embellish and Melody Belle will return home from Australia to be spelled.

"They are both going to be having breaks, they had no luck unfortunately," Richards said.

Embellish was a first-up sixth in the Gr.3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) before he had an interrupted run on Saturday when eighth in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on his Flemington return.

"He tried to get out and couldn't and when he did he got to the line well," Richards said.

Opie Bosson.

At Randwick, Melody Belle finished fifth in the Gr.2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and ninth in the Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m).

"She was three and four wide with no cover on Saturday, you just have to put a line through it and move on," Richards said.

Meanwhile, last-start Group One winner Devise will be given her chance to add black type honours across the Tasman to her record.

The Shaune Ritchie-trained mare will head to Melbourne tonight ahead of Saturday's Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington with Chad Schofield booked for the ride.

"I watched her work this morning and she has improved and gone to another level since she won the Haunui Farm WFA Classic and 2000m is definitely her best trip," said Rick Williams, who manages The Oaks Stud for Devise's breeder-owner Dick Karreman.

They had been considering a start at Ellerslie in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, but an unstable forecast has made Flemington the best option.

"She can't win a maiden on a wet track," Williams said.

"There's also the option of the Mornington Cup, that's worth A$300,000, in three weeks and the winner of that qualifies for the Caulfield Cup."

The Oaks celebrated a significant result last weekend when resident stallion Roc de Cambes' son Vin De Dance won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

"It was a great result for a relatively young sire, his statistics are very, very good," Williams said.

"His best crop is coming through now."

- NZ Racing Desk