Opie Bosson hasn’t ridden Shuka often, but he has made the opportunities count.
Bosson will partner Shuka when the Byerley Park galloper attempts to complete a Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes hat-trick at Trentham on Saturday.
Danielle Johnson was the winning rider both times, but she is taking part in an invitation riders’ series in Brisbane this weekend and Bosson will ride Shuka and stablemate Palace Rock at Trentham.
Bosson has had two wins and a second from five rides on Shuka - spread over almost five years - and has never finished further back than fifth.He had his first ride on Shuka in January 2011, when the Bachelor Duke gelding won the Gr.2 Wakefield Stakes (1200m) at Trentham.
The pair did not combine again until Shuka finished fourth in an open handicap at Ellerslie in February, 2013.Bosson next had the mount when they won an open 1400m at Ellerslie later that year and his two rides since have been in Group One races.
They combined to finish fifth in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie in April 2014 and were second, beaten half a head, in the 2014 Gr.1 Livamol Classic at Hastings.Shuka, now a seven-year-old, has had only three starts this term. He ran second over 1200m at Ruakaka fresh-up, in September and then had to mark time before making ground strongly for fourth in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Stakes at Trentham at Labour weekend, which was his first defeat on the track.
He then finished seventh, after settling at the tail of the field, in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes when he raced in cheek burrs, but blinkers go on this week.“It was a sprint home at Tauranga and I think he’s a better horse left-handed,” co-trainer Peter Williams said. “He’s working well and we are happy with him. There are a couple of good ones there but we are in the mix.”
Palace Rock, who was group-placed last term, as a three-year-old, looks well placed in the Rating 65 1400m.The Fastnet Rock mare has an inside barrier after being hampered by wide draws when placed in her two previous runs this season.
