The possibility of adding a jockeys’ premiership to one of the most impressive records in Australian racing is still a fair way from reality for Glen Boss.
But an early double at Caulfield on Saturday at least had him pondering the possibility.
Hazard winning the Thomas North Handicap at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
“It’s nice to be getting the sort of support I’m getting at the moment,” Boss said.
“A lot of trainers are putting me on. While that keeps happening I’m a chance to ride a few winners.”
Trainer Anthony Freedman and the Darley stable provided the three-year-old filly Hazard to give Boss a 10-win lead in the race for the jockeys’ title thanks to her win in the Thomas North Handicap (1400m).
Freedman and Boss made it a double when First Command won the Mal Seccull Handicap (1200m), further lengthening the jockey’s championship lead.
Under a typically confident Boss ride, the Hazard, sent out favourite at $2.70, had the run of the race, was produced at the right time and ran out a comfortable three-quarter length winner.
Nella Fantasia ($3.50), who led from soon after the start, held on to second place, 1-1/2 lengths clear of Evens ($7).
The stable likely to provide the most opposition to Boss issued a reminder of its strength in the following race, the Ian Miller Plate (1000m) with the debut win of Diamond Glow, the $2.50 favourite.
The Peter Moody-trained filly displayed manners to match her ability, giving jockey Vlad Duric a routine ride to score by 1-3/4 lengths from another first starter, Self Sense ($16) with a further long neck to Devil Woman in third.
Stable foreman Tom Brideoake said the stable would now put Diamond Glow on a black-type campaign.
“We haven’t been able to fault her … she won as we hoped she would,” Brideoake said.
“We’ll push on now to a stakes race.”
Diamond Glow would normally have been ridden by stable – and reigning – champion rider Luke Nolen who is on holidays.
His place in the saddle was taken by Vlad Duric.
