THE PETLEY REPORT: BOSSON CHASING HIS FIFTH WIN IN THE NZ OAKS ABOARD THE HOT FAVOURITE AMARELINHA

By Jack Petley | Friday, March 19, 2021

Big meeting at Trentham in New Zealand tomorrow, it is Oaks Day with that Te Akau filly Amarelinha hot favourite for the Oaks at $1.60 ahead of Needle and Thread, $8. The Jamie Richards filly will be ridden by Opie Bosson who will be chasing his fifth win in the Classic having won previously on She's Country, Bramble Rose, Princess Coup and Keep the Peace. Much interest will be focussed on the race in Australia as the Te Akau filly heads the market for the Oaks in Sydney. But that trip will depend on her form tomorrow and the weather as she does prefer good footing.

Bosson has also taken the mount on Brando tomorrow and he also handles Johnny Jones and Oso Savvy. Brando bumps up against stablemate and in form Need I Say More in the Guineas. Bosson rode both in work this week and said he would not split them. "The team wanted me to ride Brando. He has really turned the corner in the last couple of weeks. He is looking good, but then the other horse is flying,too,” said Bosson. Brando is at $2.80 for the Guines and Need I Say More (Jonathan Parkes) at $2.80 and then Bonham, with Lisa Allpress up at $5.

Bonham is with the Benner-Wynyard yard and Johnno Benner has a strong record in the race. They will also saddle up 17-1 shot Hold the Press in the Classic. Bonham, said Benner, has been given a freshen up since last racing and winning in the Levin Classic. "She has been sensational in her work she has had a freshen up, an easy trial and an exhibition gallop so she is well and truly ready," he said.

Even though at odds, Benner also rates the stable's other runner, Hold the Press.," She is a very quick and talented filly," he said." To me she has a very big future." And he added, "I would not swap my pair for any other runner. They are so well and so exciting."

In off the track news, Both Farnan and Russian Camelot have been retired with Russian Camelot injuring a tendon in trackwork. Negotiations ,I am told, are underway for a stud in the spring for the outstanding son of Camelot who was such a game second to Mugatoo in the All Star last weekend.

Champion jockey Corey Brown (44) has been forced to retire after battling so hard to overcome crippling pain from a spine injury suffered in a bad fall in the 2019 Queensland Derby on Lord Arthur.