Flemington races: Glen Boss rides Bivouac to victory in Darley Sprint Classic as son of a gun claims Matriarch Stakes
Glen Boss opted for a different kind of salute as Bivouac crushed the field in the Darley Sprint Classic, while a son of a gun made his own mark in the Matriarch Stakes.
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Flamboyant jockey Glen Boss had plenty of time to pick his victory salute at the end of Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington.
Bivouac sealed victory when he blew past Nature Strip like the four-time Group 1 winner was stationary at the 150m, leaving Boss with a few seconds’ thinking time as the Godolphin sprinter cruised clear of his rivals.
“There’s a sprinter of the year right beside him and he went straight past it and said, ‘see you later boys’,” Boss said.
Boss had a look over each shoulder to make sure Bivouac’s opposition had been crushed before standing high in the irons as the son of Exceed And Excel strode to the line more than three lengths clear of Nature Strip.
Boss flourished the whip in the air when winning the Cox Plate on Sir Dragonet but went for the head shake at Flemington.
That decision saved Boss another donation to Racing Victoria’s coffers. Because he kept both hands on the reins until the end of the race, stewards decided against fining the jockey for his latest salute.
But Boss wouldn’t have been concerned had stewards fined him. He said wins like Bivouac’s Darley Sprint Classic effort would stick in his mind long after the 51-year-old gave up riding.
“These are special moments,” Boss said.
“I’ll go when I’m retired and look back on these moments as very fond memories to think I was able to get on a colt like this and get the job done.
“I’m getting towards the pointy end of my career, but to be here at Flemington and win a race over the four days, is extraordinary.”
Boss said he expected Bivouac to win the $1.5 million race from the moment he saw the James Cummings-trained sprinter in the mounting yard.
He said the now four-year-old stallion was all business from the moment he went on to the track to canter down to the barriers.
“He’s got a great demeanour; he takes everything in his stride. He’s such an athlete,” Boss said.
“He doesn’t know he’s a colt. He just knows he’s here to do a job and to it very well.”
Boss won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap on Bivouac as an autumn three-year-old. He said Bivouac was right up there with the best colts and stallions he had ridden, many of which stand for massive service fees at stud.
Bivouac is set to command an imposing service fee himself when he starts his breeding career at Darley in the future.
What a remarkable win. Bivouac EXPLODES to win the G1 Darley Sprint Classic. 😮 @Godolphin pic.twitter.com/JbgwP2MUsN
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 7, 2020
“Everyone knows how many good colts I’ve been associated with in my career and this one is right up there with them,” Boss said
“He’s a very special animal.”
Nature Strip’s jockey Hugh Bowman was happy with the Chris Waller-trained sprinter’s effort to hold second ahead of Sydney mare Libertini.
“I was delighted with him. He was great,” he said.
Grand sprinter Santa Ana Lane beat only one runner home in his bid for a second win in the Darley Sprint Classic after winning the event in 2018.
Co-trainer Sam Freedman said connections would consider retiring the winner of more that $8 million in stakes.
Son of a gun scores career highlight at Flemington
- Ben Dorries
Son of a gun Michael Poy walked in his famous father’s footsteps and savoured his first Group win on the Flemington track where his old man once won the Melbourne Cup.
Champion hoop Michael Clarke claimed the 1986 Melbourne Cup on At Talaq and was a household name in racing as he was the stable rider for Lindsay Park for many years.
Now his boy Poy is making giant strides in racing with mare Affair To Remember making it a day to remember when claiming the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Apprentice Poy has racing in the blood as his grandfather Arthur Clarke was a jockey and a trainer and his uncles Peter and Gary were also successful jockeys.
It was an emotional moment for the youngster as he scored his greatest achievement in racing so far by surging home on Dan O’Sullivan’s Affair To Remember to claim a narrow but well-deserved victory.
Affair To Remember was slow away but Poy never panicked and showed great composure, paying back the faith of connections who could have called on a senior rider.
“I know my mum and dad would be so proud,” Poy said.
“This mare tends to begin a tad slow and when she did I had to go to ‘Plan B’ and not move on her at all.
“Today she travelled like she was going to finish off and I was looking to ride for luck on her because we were a fair way back.
“She was just travelling too strong and I thought that I’d be able to get around them and hold them in tight.”
Michael Poy wins the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes aboard Affair To Remember in a terrific finish. ✨ pic.twitter.com/BXmamzmVlP
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 7, 2020
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Originally published as Flemington races: Glen Boss rides Bivouac to victory in Darley Sprint Classic as son of a gun claims Matriarch Stakes