That doesn’t mean you can’t win leading all the way and in so many sprint races, people think that is the best place to be. For a good older sprinter, it can be for the babies: often being just back off the speed is better.
If you go back over the Karaka Millions, it is often the strongest 2-year-old who wins. They go hard, some of the leaders can’t cop that level of pressure and the stronger ones just overpower them.
I think that could happen again tomorrow and I think that horse could be To Bravery Born.
I have been riding some trackwork for Te Akau since I retired and he is a good strong horse, genuine and a real professional.
From barrier two, you could try to lead on him but there will be so much speed from out wide that I think he will sit two to three pairs back and he is really strong in the straight.
Too Sweet is a top filly but barrier 14 makes it hard, I won from out there on Probabeel but she was a freak.
La Dorada is probably the other each-way bet. She is tough.
The 3-year-old race is going to be really hard for Damask Rose, even though I think she is the best horse in it.
She was quite tired after her last-start sixth but has really turned the corner the last week but has got a tough draw.
I think the best she can hope for is being three wide with cover and she can win, but it is a very open race.
Tuxedo has a good draw, Yaldi is a smart horse but I am not sure he is a true 1600m horse and I think the upsetter could be Prosegur. The 1600m should suit her and she could be a good each-way bet.
In the other races, Move To Strike is a good horse back in Race 1 but I think Poetic Champion will be hard to beat because he should control the speed.
The Aotearoa Classic is going to be really interesting because Orchestral is the best horse but she was only okay last start. Her trainers know what they are doing so she can win but it is an open race.
If you want to have an each-way bet, I think Skew Wiff (R3, No 2) is one of the better ones on the night.
Barrier two is perfect for her and so is 1400m. She has really come on since the Telegraph so I thought she was a good bet.
As for the Railway later, it is going to be great to watch. I don’t really know who is going to win.
Maybe Alabama Lass will be too fast for them but it is hard for those fillies, up against hardened older sprinters.
As for the night, it is very special but once you get into the jockey’s room, it becomes a bit more business-as-usual.
You know it is a different night because often there are Australian riders there but that is actually a good thing; it only adds to the standard and the interest in the meeting.
While there is a big party going on outside, the jockeys tend to just concentrate on their own thing because you have a job to do – but the atmosphere always sounds great.
The Boys Get Paid actually invited me to their event and while that would be great fun, I think I will just watch the races on television; I might get to see more of them.
Will I miss it? Yes, it is one night I’d like to be back riding but you can’t change your mind for just one meeting.
But I hope everybody has a great time and good luck to all the owners, trainers and jockeys.
Winning a Karaka Million is pretty special.
Opie Bosson is a recently-retired champion jockey and the King of the Karaka Millions. He rode 5 Karaka Millions two-year-old and 1 three-year-old winner in the six years from 2017 to 2022. This is his first racing column for the Herald.
