Bosch lands fifth Ruakaka win

[Wandering Eyes]

Ruakaka stayer Bosch (NZ) (Pentire) added a fifth win to his imposing course record with a tough front-running performance in Saturday’s Northbeam Strong Stuff (2100m).

The Pentire gelding has now recorded five wins from a 30-start career, with all of those five successes coming from 15 appearances on his home track. Saturday’s win took his career earnings past $174,000.

Bosch was sent out as a $3.60 favourite on Saturday, having run a gallant last-start second in the $60,000 ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final over the same course and distance on June 28.

The six-year-old was ridden by Vinnie Colgan and ended up as the leader almost by default, with none of his eight rivals showing any interest in going forward. Colgan was able to give his mount a breather with some easy sectionals down the back straight.

Awhina’s (NZ) (Derryn) jockey Jasmine Fawcett decided to throw down the gauntlet coming down the side of the track, spearing forward out wide and clearly taking the lead before the home turn.

But Bosch rose to the challenge and found plenty more as he entered the straight. He soon shook free of Awhina and pulled away.

Fly My Wey (NZ) (Sweynesse) came through in the favourite’s slipstream and produced a strong late finish to eat into the margin, but Bosch held him out by a long neck. The third-placed I’m Lulu (NZ) ( Belardo) crossed the line another two and a half lengths behind the first two, with Awhina a length and a quarter away in fourth.

“That was very satisfying,” said local trainer Michelle Bradley, who also won the Northland Business Systems (1200m) with Iridescent earlier in the afternoon.

“He had a very, very soft lead. I was a little bit worried that something would come up, and then I saw Awhina come up and I thought, ‘Oh, Vinnie, keep going.’

“But it was a great win and it’s great to see him back in the winners’ circle. Vinnie’s a top jockey with so much experience. It’s a pleasure to have him on and get the result today. I’m extremely pleased.”

Success away from home is the only thing missing from Bosch’s CV, and Bradley is keen to change that later in this preparation.

“I’ll have a meeting with the owners either next week or the week after and we’ll have a chat about where we go next,” she said. “We’ve got Ellerslie coming back up in the spring. He’s had two runs at Ellerslie this prep and was carrying big weights. I’d have no hesitation in taking him back there. I do still think he’s going to be competitive there at a nice weight.

“We’ll just weigh up our options. To win a Cup with him would be amazing. It’s just about getting him there mentally and getting there the right way.”

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