Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) is giving off Avantage (Fastnet Rock)-type vibes to champion jockey Opie Bosson, who will ride the filly at 54.5kg on Saturday, the first time he’s ridden that light since guiding Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) to victory in last year’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.
“I really like this filly so hopefully getting down to that weight will be worth it,” Bosson said.
“She reminds me of Avantage – and she’s fast. I’ve ridden her in a few gallops and a trial now. The first time I rode her, I thought ‘woah, this thing goes really well’ and Jamie said: ‘yeah, she does’.
“She does everything right.”
Bosson guided Bright Blue Sky to a 1-¼ length trial win at Matamata earlier this month in the fastest of five 800m two-year-old heats on the day.
It was the filly’s second trial after finishing second to stablemate Time Flies in an 800m Taupo trial last month.
TAB bookmakers opened Bright Blue Sky as a $1.90 favourite for Saturday’s Listed Fasttrack Insurance 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa ahead of 6-¾ length Matamata debut winner Mascarinto (NZ) (Per Incanto) at $2.10.
“I expect her to run a bold race. Mascarinto was really impressive when he won at Matamata but hopefully she can measure up to him,” Bosson said.
“She’s drawn barrier one but we’ll play it how it unfolds. What she’s shown me in trackwork so far says she’s a really good filly anyway.”
Bosson has four other rides on the programme, combining with Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing) in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Miss Aotearoa (NZ) (Per Incanto), Image Of You (NZ) (Pins) and Joy Alone (NZ) (Roc de Cambes).
Luckless resuming at Te Rapa earlier this month, Showoroses finished second to the Bosson-ridden Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) in the weight-for-age fillies and mares feature last year before claiming the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa and Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie at her next two starts.
“She was unlucky last start, was held up a bit, but we’ve drawn the outside gate so we just have to hope for some luck with her. She’s a proven mare though and I’m looking forward to riding her,” Bosson said.
“Miss Aotearoa has been working quite well with the blinkers on. She’s got an awkward barrier draw so we’ll be hoping for some luck. I probably got there a bit soon on her last start so I’ll probably try and hold her up a bit this time.
“Image Of You is racing well. She went another good race last start.”
Despite only riding in 33 races this season, Bosson has already claimed four stakes wins, just one less than category leaders Danielle Johnson and Sarah Macnab.
Those four wins came at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup week, courtesy of a Group One double in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas aboard Noverre (NZ) (Savabeel) and The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel), flanking Group Two and Group Three wins on the middle day aboard Markus Aurelius (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Summer Monsoon (Stratum), the quartet all trained by Richards.
However, through suspensions incurred at Riccarton and Rotorua on Tuesday, Bosson won’t have the opportunity to add the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on December 4 to his season haul.
