Plenty of ignorant social media play over past two days once it was revealed Glen Boss will replace little Aussie battler, hoop James Innes Jnr, on Nettoyer this Saturday.
Innes, who doesn’t get many Saturday rides, picked up the mount at the 11th hour when pretty much everyone else was taken, last week in the $1.5m Doncaster Mile.
And we all know he brought her down the centre of the track to brilliantly win the star-studded race. Howls of excited screams were heard from not just him but fellow riders as he crossed the line.
It was his very first Gr 1 winner.
Turn to this Saturday and the mare of the moment, Nettoyer, races in another Gr 1 race, the Coolmore Legacy at Randwick over 1600m….without Innes in the saddle.
And it’s the appearance of a lack of loyalty by trainer Wendy Roche and the mare’s connections that have the crowd baying. Aussies love an underdog and Innes was superb aboard the mare to win.
BUT….here’s where a lot of racing fans get lost. Glen Boss had already been booked by Roche to ride her in the Gr 1 Coolmore Legacy. This was before she won the Doncaster.
Said a philosophical Innes yesterday via Racenet,” there has been a lot of people who have asked me how I feel about it and I can honestly say that I am just glad I got on her on the day last week and got the job done,” Innes Jnr said.
“For me, the situation with her hasn’t really bothered me knowing that I knew where I stood with the ride and it wasn’t a shock to me.
“Had Bossy not been on Brandenburg last week he probably would have been on Nettoyer anyway.
“He was already booked for this Saturday and it was a wait for Wendy to choose to go to the Doncaster.
“I will be wishing Nettoyer all the best. She is a very special horse to me.”
We’ve seen in recent months jocks lose mounts to more famous riders in the big races, and it is every jock’s desire to win Gr 1 races.
But there is a code among riders and trainers and if you are booked to ride one, pretty much only injury or suspension change that.
Boss was booked. Innes understands that. Let’s hope fans do too.
As for James Innes Jnr, whose first child had a first birthday just a few days ago, he gets a real live chance for more merriment and another Group success, on Saturday.
He rides the talented Gerald Ryan-trained TIME IS PRECIOUS in the $500,000 Gr 2 Percy Sykes Stakes over 1200m.
The filly goes into the race well drawn and coming off a series of placings this time up, culminating last start in a good 3rd behind Holyfield in the Gr 3 Baillieu at Rosehill over 1400m.
She should make her presence felt.
