Champion New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson has no plans to appeal the lengthy suspension he incurred on the closing day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
While it will cost him Group One opportunities at the upcoming New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton, Bosson will take his medicine and concentrate on remaining busy to keep his weight under control during his enforced spell.
Te Akau’s retained number one rider copped a six-week suspension at Hastings on Saturday after admitting to a charge of careless riding.
He will be side-lined until Saturday, December 10 and was also fined NZD$1000 for his part in the incident in the Group 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m).
Bosson won the race aboard Times Ticking, but allowed his mount to shift inwards in the final stages, which resulted in Lisa Allpress parting company with runner-up Old Town Road after the post and Faye Lazet was also dislodged from third placegetter Tavis Court.
Both jockeys were stood down from their remaining mounts, although Allpress was cleared to ride the following day at Rotorua where she rode three seconds.
“I think I’ll just cop it on the chin, but it’s not ideal to be out at this time of year,” Bosson said.
“I’ll try to keep myself busy and stay on top of my weight.”
Bosson has made a fast start to the season to lead the National Jockeys’ Premiership with 27 winners, four at stakes level, and five clear of Craig Grylls.
He would have had numerous rides during Cup Week at Riccarton, including options to add to his career haul of 87 top-flight winners with chances for Te Akau in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“Dynastic was disappointing the other day, but Cognito is going to the Guineas too and he looks like a horse on the up,” Bosson said.
The Mark Walker-trained Dynastic was a beaten favourite when unplaced in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and a post-race veterinary examination revealed a delayed recovery and nasal discharge.
In contrast, stablemate Cognito was a last-start winner of the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial (1400m) and is the joint +400 favourite for the 2000 Guineas with Dynastic having drifted to +500.
One Kiss is currently the most favoured of Te Akau’s 1000 Guineas contenders on the fourth line of betting at +900.
Bosson rode her to an impressive victory in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last month before she finished fifth in Saturday’s Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton where she went to the front under Kozzi Asano.
A return to the bigger Riccarton track and a change of tactics would most likely benefit the Tivaci filly.
“She is probably best ridden with a bit of cover,” Bosson said.
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