KEY POINTS:
Two weeks ago Opie Bosson knew the game was up.
His weight problem, so admirably conquered for his most recent comeback, has weighed him down again.
Bosson, unquestionably New Zealand's finest jockey, has decided to ride at Te Rapa today and Hawera tomorrow and take an indefinite break
from riding.
He has been staging a desperate battle with Lisa Cropp for the jockeys' premiership, which ends on July 31, but the struggle has been too great.
Bosson recently took a week off and on his first raceday back told the Herald: "I weighed myself and I was 61kg - I couldn't believe I'd put on so much weight so quickly."
He quickly got his weight down to ride 56kg, but that type of drastic wasting is impossible to sustain and creates a see-saw scenario that steadily makes the problem worse.
Bosson admits he has slipped off the diet that allowed him to lose a huge amount of weight for his comeback after 16 months in May last year.
He struggled at Avondale on Wednesday and made his decision to step aside after being fined $100 for being unable to ride at 55.5kg.
That decision wiped away his premiership dreams, but it enables him to stabilise his weight and make another comeback for the rich spring racing and races like the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings.
Bosson might have to wait until late in the afternoon at Te Rapa today to get on his best rides.
In the last Zilt (No7, R10) created a massive impression when she resumed with a stunning win at Awapuni last start. She faces some similarly smart types, but will give this a big shake. Chase The Sun (No3) won on debut on this track last start, like only a coming topliner can do, and rates highly again and El Cid (No8) and Thalestris (No1) combine to help make this an exceptionally strong special conditions maiden.
Bosson is also on Towzan (No10) in race 8 and he was quite exceptional in winning on this track last start. Very competitive field again, but he rates highly. Ballymore Lass (No1) is dropping back in grade and with a 3kg claim makes a fair bit of appeal. She covered some extra ground at Rotorua last week.
Bosson is a strong chance in the opener aboard Possum (No13), but Solar Fantastic (No2) looked terrific on debut at Avondale and Blondie (No12) was hampered here a couple of weeks back.
Tom Tom Cat (No6, R2) turned in a big fourth in strong company at Awapuni last start and finds a nice race here. Triple course winner Kenadaad (No2) poses a threat as does Hagar (No7) if conditions are good.
The ground Just Not Cricket (No1, R4) made up in the lead-up on this track two weeks ago makes him the top pick for the Waikato Hurdles. He is class and although he might like it a bit wetter, he will take some stopping, topweight and all. In what should be a great race, Norville Prince (No4) and Dan Moran (No3) rate highly.
Hypnotize (No5, R6) is one of the coming stars of our jumping scene and he can put inexperience behind him and take the $50,000 Waikato Steeples. He did plenty wrong here two weeks ago and was still simply too good. Big Aussie winner Blase (No2) and Fenman (No4) look dangers.
Watch for Sir Prized (No16) in race 7 and a good surface is all Heracles (No6, R9) needs to go close.
* At Awapuni, Victorious Dancer (No7, R3) deserves a winning turn. He was narrowly beaten at Riccarton and from a decent draw should get the right run today.
Don't drop Intermittent (No1, R10) for his beaten run at Hastings last start. Things weren't right that day and he might be a shade over the odds today. He's smart.