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Normal service was resumed at Ellerslie on Saturday with the champion jockey Opie Bosson showcasing his skills in the saddle.
The 36-year-old signalled his permanent return to New Zealand with a typically polished display aboard the progressive stayer Street Smart to claim the thick end of the stake in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier.
Bosson recently cut short his contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club by mutual consent and Street Smart’s trainer Shaune Ritchie was certainly glad to see him back.“He’s one of the best and it’s great to see him straight back into it,” the Cambridge horseman said.
Street Smart, who was tripped up by a wet track at Avondale at his previous appearance, has won three of his 13 starts and Ritchie is keen to pursue a path to the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup with the son of Shocking.“He’s by a Melbourne Cup winner out of a Zabeel mare so we’re in a good position,” he said.
“He’s bred to run over ground and he’s always given me the impression that he will get the ultimate trip.”Street Smart settled in the final trio and he came with long strides in the straight for Bosson to win by half a length.
“You don’t have to give him any instructions at all, he makes the right decisions and it was a good effort from the horse as well,” Ritchie said.The favourite Symphonic continued her consistent run of form with her second placing ahead of Pure Lorde, who took third from Ulysses.