Glen Boss won’t stop until he reaches 100 Group 1 wins
Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss has vowed to keep riding until he is 60 years old to ensure he reaches one of racing’s great milestones.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hall of Fame jockey Glen Boss has vowed to keep riding until he is 60 years old to ensure he smashes through the 100 Group 1 win barrier.
Boss rode another feature-race double last week with successes in the Sydney Cup (Etah James) and Australian Oaks (Colette) to take his career tally of Group 1 wins to 91.
Only four jockeys have ridden at least a century of Group 1 winners – George Moore, Damien Oliver, Roy Higgins and Jim Cassidy – but Hugh Bowman (95) and Boss are closing in on that magic number.
Stream over 50 sports on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Boss, 50, has rarely ridden in better form than he has during 2019-20 with four Group 1 wins plus victories in The Everest and Golden Eagle, and is aware he is now within “touching distance” of joining the elite “100 Group 1 winners” club.
“I reckon I can get to 100 Group 1 wins,’’ Boss said. “If I have to ride until I’m 60 to get to 100, then I’ll keep riding until I’m 60.
“I feel like I’m riding well and I’ve been fortunate to get some really good opportunities in the big races this season – but opportunities mean nothing unless you do something with them.’’
The champion jockey has another very good opportunity in a Group 1 race at Royal Randwick on Saturday when he partners Standout in the $480,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Standout, a striking chestnut three-year-old colt trained by Gerald Ryan, has won four of his six starts including the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at weight-for-age earlier this autumn before he ran only sixth to The Bostonian on a rain-affected track in the Canterbury Stakes last start.
Ryan has waited all autumn carnival to get Standout back onto a dry track and the colt races on a more suitable surface in the All Aged Stakes.
Standout is rated at $19 in TAB Fixed Odds betting behind Pierata ($4.20 favourite) but Boss has a very high opinion of the colt.
“He’s an immensely talented racehorse,’’ Boss said. “I would have loved to have had a better draw (11) as it’s just over a month between runs but he can take up a forward position.
“I’m confident in Standout’s ability but he is going to have to go to another level. He is going to need to be everything I think he is to beat these horses.’’
Boss conceded the All Aged Stakes has attracted an outstanding line-up of sprinters.
“Pierata is only having his third run in and over 1400m. He is going to be really hard to beat,’’ Boss said.
“Santa Ana Lane is right up there because he is a world class sprinter.
“I know what Bivouac is capable of as I won the Newmarket Handicap on him and he’s an outstanding colt. This is going to be an amazing race.’’
‘AUSSIE TOM’ VOWS TO RETURN
English riding sensation Tom Marquand has vowed to return to Sydney later this year after ending his latest stint when he chases more Group 1 success at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Marquand will leave for England after riding Fierce Impact in the $480,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and Holyfield in the $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
The brilliant 22-year-old jockey has been a revelation during the autumn carnival, riding Addeybb to Group 1 wins in the Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
With racing shut down in England indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Marquand has been approached to stay on longer in Sydney but the young jockey conceded the time is right to return home.
“When I’ve come to Sydney before I haven’t really missed home that much but this time it has been pretty tough being away,’’ Marquand said. “Obviously, I’m missing my family. I usually deal with that pretty easily but with the pandemic this has had a very different feel to it.’’
Marquand, who Sydney punters have nicknamed “Aussie Tom”, is returning home to an uncertain future as the pandemic grips England. More than 100,000 Britons are confirmed as contracting the virus while the death toll keeps climbing, with nearly 13,000 losing their lives.
English racing authorities were hopeful of getting racing started by early next month but those plans are on hold as the nation prepares to extend its lockdown for another month.
“They are hopeful and optimistic about getting racing off the ground in May but it is going to be tough,’’ Marquand said. “Most people have their horses in training as normal but when racing does return, it will be behind closed doors.
“Royal Ascot without a crowd will be very different but Australia has found a way to show how it is done.”
Marquand’s success in Sydney this autumn has made headlines for all the right reasons in England, even leading the BBC’s sports report last weekend.
“My family were absolutely buzzing,’’ Marquand said.
Marquand is hoping his success in Sydney this autumn could lead to increased opportunities for him when racing eventually resumes in England.
“I’m very fortunate the last couple of years to have ridden a lot of winners but it is hard to break into that top circle of jockeys that get the rides in the big races,’’ he said. “I’m hoping this will raise my profile. The Sydney carnival has been a great opportunity to showcase that if I’m on the right horse I can do it on the right day in the big races.’’
Marquand has a very real opportunity to add his Group 1 successes with Addeybb when he rides Fierce Impact and Holyfield on Saturday.
“Holyfield won well last start (Baillieu Handicap) and form was backed up the other day with Untamed winning at Randwick. I feel going up to the mile looks like it will suit him,” Marquand said. “Fierce Impact I’ve not ridden before but he comes in with very good form.’’
Marquand is booked to catch a flight to London on Saturday night before spending 14 days in self isolation. He plans on returning to Sydney later in the year.
“I might possibly come back in spring but I will definitely come for my annual trip now every summer,’’ he said.
Finally, what does an Englishman think of being called “Aussie Tom?”
“It doesn’t bother me — I’ve certainly been called worse!’’ Marquand said.
BANNED HUG COSTS STAR JOCKEY $2000
Racing NSW continued its crackdown on anyone breaking strict coronavirus protocols, handing out a $2000 fine to star jockey Tom Marquand after his post-race embrace of a stablehand following Addeybb’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes win last Saturday.
Stablehand Safid Alam was hit with a $500 fine for the embrace which Marquand initiated after winning the Group 1 feature race at Royal Randwick.
“After dismounting from Addeyyb, jockey Marquand did initiate contact with Mr Alam by contacting his shoulder, which then resulted in Mr Alam and jockey Marquand embracing shortly after, such contact being in breach of the Racing NSW COVID-19 Protocols,” a Racing NSW stewards report read.
Racing NSW sought medical advice to see if Marquand could continue riding in NSW this week before flying back to England after Saturday’s All Aged Stakes meeting at Randwick.
Neither Marquand nor Alam were displaying any symptoms of coronavirus and stewards are satisfied the jockey doesn’t pose an increased risk to his peers this week.
The punishment comes days after Gai Waterhouse and Arian Bott’s stable rep Neil Paine was banned from racetracks for a month after getting too close to his team after Farnan’s Golden Slipper win last month.
Marquand rode at Wednesday’s meeting on the Kensington track at Randwick and will ride Matthew Smith’s multiple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact in the All Ages Stakes and Holyfield in the Champagne Stakes for the Maher/Eustace operation.
Originally published as Glen Boss won’t stop until he reaches 100 Group 1 wins
Hickmott scores first Murray Bridge Cup with trifecta
Trainer Michael Hickmott’s dream was realised by not only winning his first Murray Bridge Gold Cup but producing astunning trifecta.
Yellow Brick back on road for Sydney riches
The real Yellow Brick stood up with a dominant win at Eagle Farm to earn another shot at a rich Sydney race.