Opie Bosson wins the first race at Ellerslie on Saturday on Ja Ja Binks. Photo / Trish Dunell
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 group one Vodafone New Zealand Derby on Gingernuts.
Bosson, who is in white-hot form, set the
tone for his day right from the opening salvo when he produced a copybook effort to land Ja Ja Binks a narrow but impressive win in the first race on the programme.
The four-year-old Falkirk mare had surprised many with a devastating late sprint on Karaka Million night to win over 1200 metres in the hands of visiting rider Hugh Bowman.
Stepping up in grade to rating 75 company on Saturday obviously didn't faze her as Bosson employed similar tactics to produce the same result for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne who also own and co-bred the mare. 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.
