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Bosson to appeal suspension; There's one track and distance for Vass; Impecunious unscathed after kick
Bosson to appeal suspension
Champion jockey Opie Bosson is appealing a suspension which has robbed him of two leading Group One rides and a chance of winning a fifth straight $1m Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m).
Bosson was suspended on careless riding charges stemming from his rides on third-placed Sword Of State in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and on the unplaced Illusion Of Paris in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on January 1.
His suspension began after racing on January 4 and ends after racing on January 28.
Bosson's agent Aidan Rodley said the jockey was appealing the penalty only.
"Opie was satisfied he received an entirely fair hearing on both charges but we feel the suspension, which rules him out of four big-money weekend meetings is too harsh," Rodley said.
Bosson would have ridden favourites in two Group One races at Trentham on January 16 — Avantage in the JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) and Brando in the Levin Classic (1600m) — and had leading chances for Matamata trainer Jamie Richards in both the Karaka Million 2YO and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 23.
No date for the appeal has yet been set.
There's one track and distance for Vass
It's not a surprise that trainer Colin Little has aimed Vassilator at a Flemington 1400m race, the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes, as he is the epitome of a track and distance specialist.
Vassilator has the unique distinction of his four career wins all being over 1400m at Flemington, which is again the track and distance of his next assignment on Saturday.
The son of Zacinto won at the track over 1400m at his last start and Little said Vassilator was a big scopey horse who was suited by the wide expanses of Flemington.
"It's one of those things," Little said. "He's suited by the long run in and often there's more pace on in races. He loves the space he can find there."
Little said the key to Vassilator as he has aged is that he was a little easier on him in training.
"He likes that. He's a very sound horse and he should have good longevity," he said.
Damien Oliver who rode Vassilator to win at his last start will stay on the five-year-old gelding carrying 58.5kg, 1.5kg less than at his last start win.
Little purchased Vassilator out of Windsor Park Stud's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft for $25,000.
Impecunious unscathed after kick
Impecunious may yet feature in some of the autumn's premier races for fillies, despite being kicked by a rival horse and subsequently scratched at Caulfield on Saturday.
Co-trainer Natalie Young reported that the daughter of Sacred Falls had not sustained any injury in the incident but would still be given a short freshen-up before returning to the track in February.
The three-year-old burst onto the scene with a brilliant win at her Australian debut last month, prompting connections to set their sights on the Gr.1 ATC Oaks (2400m) in April.
"She's OK, just some bruising thankfully," Young said.
"She'll go out for a two-week let-up and she could be back at the races next month."
Impecunious was previously trained in New Zealand by Michael and Mathew Pitman, for whom she won and placed in her two starts in her homeland.
She was subsequently sold to Australian interests, with her original New Zealand owner Chris Griffin retaining an interest, and the talented filly rewarded her new connections with a first-up Australian victory over 1200m at Caulfield.
