Punters who invested heavily on the mounts of jockey Opie Bosson at Ellerslie on Saturday were well rewarded with the man from Matamata claiming four wins on the day including the major prize, the Gr. 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby on Gingernuts.
Bosson, who is in white-hot form at present, set the tone for his day right from the opening salvo when he produced a copybook effort to land progressive mare Ja Ja Binks a narrow but impressive winner in the first race on the programme.
Settled at the rear of the nine horse field Ja Ja Binks was a conservative seven lengths from the leaders as they headed for home. Although winding up strongly many felt she had left her run too late as she was still two lengths astern of race favourite Julius who had taken control with 150 metres to run. Bosson had timed his run to perfection though and she collared the favourite right on the line to win by a head in a smart 1.09.49 for the 1200 metre journey.
“She’s just been a superstar as she keeps improving,” said an excited Emma-Lee Browne after the race.“David galloped her the other day and said he didn’t want to say it but she had improved again.
“She bounced through her last run well but we were concerned about the step up in grade against the older, seasoned horses so it’s a good result.”Bosson was also taken with the mare’s ability to sprint quickly when asked.
“They were really flying up front so I was hoping they might compound that last bit,” he explained.“She’s a good mare who has a great turn of foot.”
