The Cup Day undercard

One of New Zealand’s best notches Cup Day winner

Opie Bosson is nothing short of a legend in the jockey ranks in New Zealand, not unlike Damien Oliver, and in the twilight of his career he continues to ride winners.

Skew Wiff’s victory in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) was Bosson’s fourth winner at Flemington.

“It was a gun ride, that’s why he’s the equivalent of the G.O.A.T in New Zealand,” Ben Gleeson, trainer Mark Walker’s representative, said.

“He was trying to keep the three-wide trail and hold her as much as he could but he knows the filly so well and to come over for just her today shows the opinion he has of her.”

Already a Group 1 winner in her home country, Skew Wiff’s next assignment is in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 18.

Forgot You back in winner's stall 

Forgot You registered his first win in over two years when taking out the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m). 

His victory was his first away from Moonee Valley where, as a three-year-old, Forgot You won the Group 2 Vase (2040m) before starting as a leading pick when sixth in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington the following week. 

Forgot You spent almost 18 months away from the racetrack before returning to racing at Caulfield in August, and Tuesday’s outing was his sixth run for the campaign. 

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper had been racing well without winning, but appreciated the solid tempo that was carved out on Tuesday by Sibaaq. 

“When he broke down, he broke down badly. Everyone has done a fantastic job,” Busuttin said. 

“In his first three runs he was probably still fat. He’s a bull (entire), a five-year-old bull that had been off the scene basically for 18 months. 

“While he was going well, he was still racing himself into fitness and running in the spring and group races, they’re hard to win.” 

Quandry for Price and Kent Jnr camp 

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have some thinking to do after the win of Warmonger in the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m). 

The 1800m journey is a tricky trip as Warmonger could potentially develop into being a Derby contender in the autumn, but at the same time does not yet know how to put a race away. 

The question for Price and Kent Jnr is whether to extend Warmonger out in trip or freshen him up for another shot at a Stakes race. 

“He’s on the up and up,” Price said. 

“We wanted to ride him cold. He was a bit messy early but he’s still green, he’s still off and on, it’s only run number three for him so there’s two options for him. 

“On Cranbourne Cup Day (November 25) there’s a 2000-metre race worth $175,000 or the week later, December 2, there’s the (Group 2) Sandown Guineas. 

“It depends on if we go fresh or 2000 metres, but we got a winner. 

“How easy is that?” 

Doudle and Oliver combine for Cup Day win 

Adelaide trainer Travis Doudle said success in the Schweppervescence Plate (1000m) was incredibly special after combing with Damien Oliver to win with Wiggum. 

Oliver is riding at his last Melbourne Cup Carnival while Doudle was saddling just his second starter at the four-day event. 

“I thought I’d better grab him while I could,” Doudle said. 

“He’s ridden for me a little bit in the past, so I took the opportunity, and I got him on both of mine today, so I’m very happy. 

“We had one in the grey’s race last year and it ran third, so we were happy with that, but we knew we had to go a bit better, and this guy’s done it today. 

“I’m so over the moon for the owners. They’ll have a pretty good night.” 

After a double on Victoria Derby Day, Oliver has now ridden 88 Cup Carnival winners as the champion jockey approaches retirement. 

Kah rides Flemington winner for ‘second parents’ 

Jamie Kah says winning the Macca’s Run (2800m) for South Australian trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray is like winning the Melbourne Cup. 

Kah was brought up in the Adelaide Hills and described Clarken and MacGillivray as ‘second parents’. 

“This honestly feels like I just won the Melbourne Cup for these people, Dan and Oopy,” Kah said. 

“They have looked after me my whole life. They let me live with them for many years and they’re like my second parents, so to me it’s very, very special. 

“I was so excited to ride this horse and thought she’d go well, but that surprised me how well she ran.” 

MacGillivray said success on Melbourne Cup Day was easily the biggest thrill of her training career. 

She said right from the start she thought Kah would develop into an exceptional talent. 

“The Map is a very special horse to us, and it is just a privilege to be here,” MacGillivray said. 

“Jamie just had a way of doing things, she’d sit on horses and not move, and they ran for her. 

“I think she rode one of her first winners for me at the old Murray Bridge track over 900 metres, so we’ve come a long way. 

“Especially her.” 

Flemington first for Furdetska 

Trainer Tetyana Furdeska landed her first Flemington victory on the biggest day of racing – Melbourne Cup Day. 

The Maggstar, who provided Furdetska with her first metropolitan success at Sandown earlier in the year, resumed from a spell to claim the Subzero Handicap (1400m). 

“I can’t believe I’m here at Flemington. I dream about Flemington all my life,” Furdetska said. 

“One of my other horses, he bowed a tendon, and he was supposed to be going to the Melbourne Cup - the next race, next year.” 

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