Opie Bosson will head into unfamiliar territory to partner leading Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) contender Suizuro.
The champion jockey has enjoyed top-flight Australian successes in Melbourne and Sydney and will bid to make his mark in Adelaide on Saturday week to further his impressive CV.
Bosson has been booked to ride the current joint second favourite in the Morphettville classic, who is prepared by expatriate New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
“Trent is always trying to get me over to Australia to ride some for him and he rang me on Saturday after the races and asked me to go over for the Derby,” Bosson said.
“I might have one other ride for him, but I’m not sure what it is, and I’ve never been to Adelaide before.”
A son of Real Impact, Suizuro has won three of his 10 starts and two runs back he finished off strongly from well back in the field to run third in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).
He was ridden a lot closer to the pace in Saturday’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) and came out of the trail to hit the front before the turn and stayed on gamely to be beaten less than a length.
Suizuro was partnered by Craig Newitt, who is expected to be aboard stablemate Gottabesavvy in the Derby after guiding the Waikato Stud-bred and sold son of Savabeel to consecutive wins at Pakenham and Ballarat last month.
“I talked to Mark (Walker) about the trip and he said you might as well go, we haven’t got a lot happening here,” Bosson said.
He returned from suspension to team up with Walker for a winning treble at Te Rapa on Saturday, including success in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) with Aromatic.
Bosson also claimed the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at Awapuni aboard the Sacred Falls mare at her previous start and put her run of form this preparation down to maturity.
“She has really strengthened, it’s just been time and she’s really confident now,” he said.
Bosson had earlier won the Hutton Contracting Handicap (1300m) on Wairau Cove and rounded off the day with victory on She’s Outrageous in the Mainline Cambridge Handicap (1600m).
“Wairau Cove has been a bit of a worry, he can gallop but he’s just been a bit disappointing at times,” he said.
A son of Darci Brahma, he has won three of his 12 appearances and also finished runner-up behind Bonny Lass in last season’s edition of the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
She’s Outrageous had been unplaced two runs back at Awapuni, where she was help up in the straight, before the daughter of Reliable Man overcame a tardy start to close off strongly at Te Rapa for her second win from nine outings.
“She won really well and I think she will be even better next year when she strengthens up a bit more,” Bosson said.
