Chief Stipe

Top jockey Opie Bosson will return to raceday riding next week Bosson nearing raceday return NZ Racing Desk 18 October 2021 Star jockey Opie Bosson is inching his way closer to a return to raceday riding. Bosson has effectively spent two months on the side-lines after his home south of Pukekawa was deemed as being in the Auckland region for COVID-19 lockdown purposes. The 41-year-old gained an exemption to relocate to Te Akau Stud in west Waikato three weeks ago. Despite being in a part of Waikato that remains under Alert Level 3, the move will enable the champion hoop to ride at Te Rapa and Cambridge meetings, with those tracks also operating at the same alert level. Bosson is not a natural lightweight and with the support of Te Akau principal David Ellis has been working hard to get back to racing trim. “It’s just been frustrating really, not knowing where we’re at,” Bosson said. “I’ve found it harder the last few weeks, where I’ve been losing weight. “David and I have been on a very strict diet and I've been training hard every day in the gym and going for runs all around the farm. I’m just keeping busy and eating properly and keeping the fitness up.” With 83 Group One victories to his name, Bosson is looking forward to getting back to the races and has earmarked Monday’s Labour Day racemeeting at Te Rapa for his return. He credits Karyn Fenton-Ellis for smoothing the way for his return, having assisted the top jockey with the relevant paperwork. “Karyn’s been amazing. We had to do everything properly to get myself based in the Waikato, applying through the appropriate government channels,” Bosson said. “I haven’t sat on too many horses in the past couple of months. I rode five at the jumpouts for Peter and Dawn Williams, but other than that I haven’t sat on a horse other than Gingernuts, who is used as a lead pony for the young ones here at Te Akau.” Bosson has been separated from his young family over the past few weeks, as well as his sheep and beef farm, but is making the most of his sacrifices by immersing himself in farm-life on the 4000 acres at Te Akau, which in addition to horses is home to a large sheep and cattle operation. “It’s my full time job. I’ve been grubbing thistles, spraying, driving a tractor, drenching – I’ve been doing all sorts,” Bosson said. “I learn heaps off David. If I need to ask him any questions about farming he’s willing to help. “It’s not the easiest and I miss my family and the farm. (My wife) Emily’s in charge of everything so she’s got quite the workload with her job (at Trackside) and looking after a two-year-old (son Max) and looking after the farm.” Bosson has keenly followed the fortunes of the broader Te Akau team, which continues to perform well on both sides of the Tasman, headed by quality mares Probabeel, Kahma Lass and Entriviere. “You know what Covid has done and you can't do anything about it, so I just cheer them on and it's good to see that they're getting the results,” Bosson said. “If the borders do open, and an opportunity came up, I’d love to do another stint in Aussie next year.” Meanwhile, Bosson is hopeful of a downgrade in alert levels locally to enable him to add to his elite level tally and nominates smart Savabeel colt Noverre as one to follow. “I'm looking forward to having a ride on him. It looks like he’s going well and he’ll be a nice 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) chance.”

Nominations - Tuesday 19 October 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Time TBC2040mGroup 1COX PLATE RACE DETAILS Callsign Mav (NZ) T: J.Bary 2# 1 59kg N/A 23-11 – – Dalasan T: L.Macdonald & A.Gluyas 1# 2 59kg N/A 3-083 – – Elephant (NZ) T: Emma-Lee & David Browne 3# 3 59kg N/A -1218 – – Gold Trip (FR) T: C.Maher & D.Eustace 4 59kg N/A 52-3- – – Harbour Views (FR) T: M.J.Williams 1# 5 59kg N/A 0-134 – – Homesman (USA) T: Anthony & Sam Freedman 1# 6 59kg N/A 2-240 – – Incentivise T: P.G.Moody 7 59kg N/A 1-111 – – Irish Flame (NZ) T: M.B.Scott 2# 8 59kg N/A 3-300 – – Keiai Nautique (JPN) T: M.C.Smith 2# 9 59kg N/A 0-474 – – Superstorm T: D.T.O'Brien 1# 10 59kg N/A -4133 – – Zaaki (GB) T: A.S.Neasham 1# 11 59kg N/A 1-113 – – Mo'unga (NZ) T: A.S.Neasham 2# 12 57.5kg N/A 7-125 – – Colette T: J.A.Cummings 1# 13 57kg N/A 4-651 – – Probabeel (NZ) T: J.Richards 3# 14 57kg N/A -1521 – – Sierra Sue (NZ) T: T.Busuttin & N.Young 15 57kg N/A 11710 – – Verry Elleegant (NZ) T: C.J.Waller 16 57kg N/A 2-214 – – State Of Rest (IRE) T: J.P.O'Brien 3# 17 56.5kg N/A -3-1- – – Duais T: E.A.Cummings 1# 18 55.5kg N/A -3610 – – Hungry Heart T: C.J.Waller 3$ 19 55.5kg N/A 1-848 – – Anamoe T: J.A.Cummings 1# 20 49.5kg N/A 1-121 – – Artorius T: Anthony & Sam Freedman 2# 21 49.5kg N/A -2243 – – Captivant T: P. & P.Snowden 1# 22 49.5kg N/A -3672 – – Forgot You (NZ) T: T.Busuttin & N.Young 2# 23 49.5kg N/A -3116 – – Giannis T: C.J.Waller 4$ 24 49.5kg N/A 2-190 – – Lightsaber T: P.G.Moody 3# 25 49.5kg N/A -6414 – –

He's not racing Joe.

That is a bit of a daft statement and a cliched one! Obviously "on the day" they were better. However the question is did Zaaki run up to his rating? At 118 arguably not. I note that when questioned by the Stewards the Trainer said "After viewing the race she was of the view that the gelding raced keenly today and in her opinion may not have handled the Caulfield track".

Who's Rod? Perhaps @nod is right but you appear to have missed his classification of Zaaki as a "mudder". Seven of his nine wins have been on Good ground. So based on those stats I would disagree with @nod. Granted his best wins have been on a Good 4 not a Good 3.

Elephant nominated for the Scwheppes Crystal Mile Grp2 on Cox Plate Day. Still in noms for Cox Plate.

Both the Jockey then and his next Jockey have said since that sometimes a horse doesn't fire at Caulfield. Don't take up sailing or fishing Pasta where knots are important.

Seemed to relish the gallop there on Saturday. Are you not keeping up?

Gets 1.5kg. Melbourne Cup Carpenter: “57kg is a very challenging weight” Incentivise winning the Caulfield Cup (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images) By Gilbert Gardiner 03:08pm • 18 October 2021 Comments INCENTIVISE would join the legend Makybe Diva as the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup, if successful, with more than 57kg in the past five decades. Not since Gold And Black in 1977, Bart Cummings’ fifth of a record 12 Cups, has the winner lumped 57kg. Makybe Diva famously carried 58kg in 2005, winning an unprecedented third-straight Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter on Monday announced a 1.5kg penalty for the Peter Moody-trained Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise, taking the progressive galloper to 57kg, ahead of the first Tuesday in November. “We are comfortable giving him 1.5kg, taking him to 57kg, is the right assessment,” Carpenter said. “If you look at the 11 horses that have done the double there’s only one that’s carried 57kg or more in winning the Melbourne Cup, Rising Fast (1954). “Galilee (1966) was one of the great champions and he had 56.5kg, Might And Power (1997) was astonishing in his Caulfield Cup victory and he carried 56kg. “People get very excited about the win on Saturday but 57kg is a very challenging weight. “When we decide a penalty we have to sit back a little bit from the excitement of seeing such a rapidly improving horse and make an assessment that’s fair to him and also his fellow competitors.” Incentivise has an opportunity to become only the 12th horse in history to complete the Cups double and first since Kiwi mare Ethereal in 2001. 14 Caulfield Cup winners after Ethereal have competed in the Melbourne Cup, but not one of them has finished in the top three. The penalty sees Incentivise join Verry Elleegant and Gold Trip, both set to run in Saturday’s $5m Group 1 W.S Cox Plate, and star import Spanish Mission on the weight scale. Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment is the top weight with 58kg. Incentivise pummeled Caulfield Cup opposition last Saturday, coming away to win by three and a half lengths under a hold from jockey Brett Prebble. It was the gelding’s third straight win – all at Group 1 level – since joining Moody’s Pakenham-based stable. “Quite astonishing a horse that only won his maiden six months ago now has 57kg in a Melbourne Cup and on the same level as some of Australia and Europe’s best stayers,” Carpenter said. “He was very impressive winning the Caulfield Cup on Saturday…probably (along with Jameka 2016) the most impressive win since Might And Power won by 7.5 lengths and broke the track record and then went on to win the Melbourne Cup double in a very close finish with Doriemus.” Might And Power received a record 3.5kg penalty for the Caulfield Cup win, which took the destructive front-runner to 56kg in the Melbourne Cup. Carpenter informed Moody about the penalty prior to the announcement. “Peter felt it was very fairly treated, it certainly was around the mark he expected,” Carpenter said. “I think there’s no doubt he’ll run (in the Cup) as long as the horse is fit and healthy on the day. “They’ll take up the challenge and I wish them every success. “The purpose of the penalty is not to get him beaten, it’s to allow him to be competitive and have an opportunity to create history.”

But do they have more influence on performance than the horses ability or the location of the track?

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Which horse are you referring to? How many races did it win on its "favourite" courses? What were the track conditions, weight carried, distance and class of field in each of those 12 races at Awapuni? I'm not making anything up. Finer more experienced judges than I would agree with what I've said.

Because they are not mutually exclusive statements. The initiated that haven't spent much time around horses don't realise that horses are very aware of their surroundings and have incredible memories. Some horses need a decent race gallop on a course before working it out. Hence most of the major Cox Plate players are having their final track gallops over the last week to 2 weeks on the Moonee Valley course. So Caulfield can trip a horse up the first time. But more often than not they will race OK next time there. The "horses for courses" premise based on observation doesn't stack up statistically.

Yes very few realise there is a "hill" on the course. As for Moonee Valley it doesn't seem to have the same effect on newcomers. I'm not sure why but I'm sure Joe you have a theory. My thoughts are that you can improve position down the school side straight and the final bend is well cambered so leaders and swoopers are both suited.

So the majority opinion which you now subscribe to is that Caulfield can "catch horses out" or "they sometimes don't fire"...... Where have I changed my mind? I said that Caulfield can catch some horses out especially the first time they go round there. Your premise now is that there are "horses for courses". I don't adhere to that premise at all.

So the majority opinion which you now subscribe to is that Caulfield can "catch horses out" or "they sometimes don't fire"...... Where have I changed my mind? I said that Caulfield can catch some horses out especially the first time they go round there. Your premise now is that there are "horses for courses". I don't adhere to that premise at all.

But you disagreed initially but now have changed your mind?

That's because the Racing Authorities have a more stringent regime than the State Government. Go figure!

So if I or @Joe Bloggssay it we are poor judge's but if JMac or you say it you are on the money!

I see your favourite Jockey JMac has the same opinion of Caulfield - "sometimes they don't fire at Caulfield"!

JockeysNSWThe Everest JMac just can’t get ‘Sweet Caroline’ out of his head James McDonald delights the adoring crowd after Nature Strip won The Everest. Picture: Mark Evans–Getty Images By Matt Jones 08:00pm • 17 October 2021 Comments Sunday morning and James McDonald was still singing ‘Sweet Caroline’. Certainly it came as no surprise that the Neil Diamond classic was rattling around in his head after the events the previous day when a 10,000-strong Randwick crowd sang long and loud, along with McDonald as he held aloft The Everest trophy. You wouldn’t have blamed the champion hoop had he woken from his slumber foggy and nursing a sore head, after all less than 18 hours earlier he’d claimed the biggest prize in his brilliant riding career landing the $15m TAB Everest aboard Nature Strip. But instead McDonald admitted to keeping celebrations responsible, and very much to a minimum with his partner Katelyn Mallyon. “I did find it hard to sleep on the night after what happened,” McDonald said. “It was an unbelievable day and all credit to Nature Strip, he’s a very good horse. “Katelyn and I just kicked back, had a bit of pizza and a glass of champagne each and I was knackered after that. “I didn’t do much celebrating at all because I knew I was on my way to Melbourne the next morning.” McDonald jetted into Melbourne on Sunday for his first full day of self-isolation before he later in the week reunites with superstar galloper, and Cox Plate favourite, Zaaki on Saturday in the $5m race. The Annabel Neasham-trained runner wasn’t at his best in the Might And Power Stakes last start but McDonald is backing him to show his real self on the weekend. “They can sometimes not fire at Caulfield but I’m confident Zaaki will bounce back,” he said. While the next few days in quarantine are assured for McDonald he doesn’t know what the next few weeks will hold with the $7m Golden Eagle meeting in Sydney on the same day as Victoria Derby day at Flemington and then of course there’s the $8m Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. Of course JMac will be in demand wherever he shows up, but in these tricky Covid restricted times just where that may be remains a mystery until next week.

Hell @Thomass must be having conniptions followed by paroxysms since Saturday. Danielle Johnson in her excellent ride on Savvy Yong Blonk in the Livimol got fined $3,500 for giving her "two strikes with the whip within two consecutive strides before the 100m". What a nonsense rule.

That would be unheard of in recent times. If that happened the handicapper doesn't think that this years Caulfield Cup was the crappiest in memory.

O.5 kg

Peter Moody believes Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter 'won't crucify' Incentivise when re-handicapping the Caulfield Cup winner for next month's $8m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). Moody hinted that Incentivise would not run in the Melbourne Cup if he and connections believed Incentivise was harshly treated at the weights but downplayed that possibility occurring. "I'm not going to go down the path of trying to convince handicappers but I've got to be honest, that would play a part (in deciding to run)," Moody told RSN's Correct Weight. "What weight is he going to be asked to carry? It will be interesting to see what Greg's assessment is. His assessment off the Makybe (Diva) where I thought he was very harsh on him, he was proven right. "I'd like to think that he will give him a chance to go to the Melbourne Cup because it's probably only ever going to be his chance to go to a Melbourne Cup." Carpenter has handicapped the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups since 2005 and under his reign has never resorted to issuing a weight penalty greater than 2kg for a Caulfield Cup winner heading to Flemington 16 days later. Incentivise is sure to test Carpenter's discretionary judgement. The gelded son of Shamus Award won the $5m G1 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (2400m) by 3.5 lengths, the widest margin since Might And Power in 1997, carrying equal topweight of 55.5kg. Moody didn't nominate a specific weight penalty that he would deem appropriate for Incentivise who is also currently handicapped with 55.5kg for the Melbourne Cup. However, Moody cited the example of Verry Elleegant only receiving a half-kilo penalty for beating English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in last year's Caulfield Cup, raising her Melbourne Cup weight to 55.5kg. "I really don't know, it's got to be weighed up against his likely opposition," Moody said. "What are we going to get penalised for beating a horse (Nonconformist) that won a trial leading into it that's probably got a doubt on him at a mile-and-a-half?" WATCH: Incentivise's Caulfield Cup win Carpenter stated that Incentivise would have been handicapped with 53kg or 53.5kg for the Cups if not for winning his first Group 1 race, the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), two days ahead of the releasing his weights for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Incentivise has since won the $1m G1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) under set weights and penalties, where he escaped any penalty for the Cups, and then yesterday's Caulfield Cup. Incentivise defeated last year's Melbourne Cup fifth placegetter Persan in this month's Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup by 5.25 lengths on each occasion, conceding 2kg and 2.5kg respectively to Persan. As things stand, Incentivise is due to concede this year's Caulfield Cup third placegetter Persan 2.5kg in the Melbourne Cup. “We were probably weighted up to our best at that point in time (the release of handicap weights) and I understand from my conversations with Greg (Carpenter) that if they get that pretty steep penalty going into the Caulfield Cup it probably lessens their risk of a severe penalty going to the Melbourne Cup," Moody said. "He (Carpenter) is very good at his job but we won't crucify the horse and I'm confident that he won't. "He will give us a chance to take the horse there to win it (the Melbourne Cup) if the horse is well enough, I'm hopeful of," Moody added. The heftiest weight penalties for Caulfield Cup winners in the Melbourne Cup were issued by Carpenter's predecessor Jim Bowler. Bowler is the longest serving Cups handicapper in history, issuing the weights over a 25-year period from 1980 to 2004 and routinely would give a couple of extra kilos to the Caulfield Cup winner ahead of the Melbourne Cup. Bowler gave a 3kg or 3.5kg weight penalty on six occasions, with Gurner's Lane (1982), Doriemus (1995) and Might And Power (1997) successfully carrying the Caulfield Cup weight penalty in the Melbourne Cup. MELBOURNE CUP PENALTIES TO CAULFIELD CUP WINNERS SINCE 1980 2020 – VERRY ELLEEGANT (5M) +0.5kg to 55.5kg, 7th. 2019 – MER DE GLACE (5H) +1kg to 56kg, 6th. 2018 – BEST SOLUTION (5H) No penalty to 57.5kg, 8th. 2017 – BOOM TIME (6G) +1kg to 53kg, 15th. 2016 – JAMEKA (4M) +1.5kg to 54.5kg, 15th. 2015 – MONGOLIAN KHAN (4H) +1kg to 56kg, Did not run. 2014 – ADMIRE RAKTI (7H) +0.5kg to 58.5kg, 22nd. 2013 – FAWKNER (6G) +1.5kg to 54.5kg, 6th. 2012 – DUNADEN (7H) +1kg to 59kg, 14th. 2011 – SOUTHERN SPEED (4M) Not entered in Melbourne Cup. 2010 – DESCARADO (4G) +1.5kg to 54kg, Failed to finish. 2009 – VIEWED (6H) +1kg to 58kg, 7th. 2008 – ALL THE GOOD (6H) +2kg to 55kg, Did not run. 2007 – MASTER O'REILLY (5G) +1.5kg to 53kg, 8th. 2006 – TAWQEET (5H) +2kg to 55.5kg, 19th. 2005 – RAILINGS (4G) +2kg to 54kg, 14th. 2004 – ELVSTROEM (4H) +2.5kg to 56.5kg, 4th. 2003 – MUMMIFY (4G) +2.5kg to 55kg, Did not run. 2002 – NORTHERLY (6G) +2kg to 60kg, Did not run. 2001 – ETHEREAL (4M) +2kg to 52kg, Won. 2000 – DIATRIBE (4H) +2.5kg to 55kg, 11th. 1999 – SKY HEIGHTS (4G) +1.5kg to 56.5kg, 17th. 1998 – TAUFAN'S MELODY (8G) +2.5kg to 56kg, 4th. 1997 – MIGHT AND POWER (4G) +3.5kg to 56kg, Won. 1996 – ARCTIC SCENT (4M) +3kg to 51.5kg, 12nd. 1995 – DORIEMUS (5G) +3kg to 54.5kg, Won. 1994 – PARIS LANE (4G) +3kg to 54.5kg, 2nd. 1993 – FRAAR (6H) +2kg to 56kg, 13th. 1992 – MANNERISM (4M) Not entered in Melbourne Cup. 1991 – LET'S ELOPE (4M) +2.5kg to 51kg, Won. 1990 – SYDESTON (5G) +2.5kg to 58.5kg, 11th. 1989 – COLE DIESEL (5G) +1kg to 53kg, 16th. 1988 – IMPOSERA (4M) Not entered in Melbourne Cup. 1987 – LORD REIMS (6G) +2.5kg to 54.5kg, Did not run. 1986 – MR LOMONDY (6G) +2kg to 56.5kg, 8th. 1985 – TRISTARC (4M) +3kg to 52.5kg, 8th. 1984 – AFFINITY (5G) +2.5kg to 55.5kg, 6th. 1983 – HAYAI (4H) +2kg to 55kg, 15th. 1982 – GURNER'S LANE (4G) +3kg to 56kg, Won. 1981 – SILVER BOUNTY (4H) Not entered in Melbourne Cup. 1980 – MING DYNASTY (7G) No penalty to 58kg, 17th. * Jameka had 0.5kg penalty and weights were raised 0.5kg in Caulfield Cup. ** Master O'Reilly won Caulfield Cup with 50kg, 3kg penalty - 1.5kg for Herbert Power and 1.5kg for Caulfield Cup. *** Cole Diesel won Caulfield Cup with 50kg, 3.5kg penalty - 2.5kg for Toorak Handicap and 1kg for Caulfield Cup (Cole Diesel had 49.5kg in Melbourne Cup).