Boss set to avenge last-start loss

Promising galloper Boss winning at Hawera by six and a quarter lengths last month. Source: Race Images.

Otaki trainer Johno Benner is happy to put Boss’ last-start failure behind him as he prepares for Sunday’s Lincoln Farms Salute To The Stars (1400m) at Trentham.

Towkay three-year-old Boss was an impressive 6 1/4-length winner at Hawera last month but wasn’t able to replicate the effort in a strong age-group sprint at Awapuni on Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes day.

Benner, who trains in partnership with Holly Wynyard, said Boss returned to scale with a cut on a back leg but he put the failure down to the horse not being comfortable around the final bend.

“He really struggled around that bend and couldn’t get balanced up,” Benner said.

“I was a little bit puzzled about how he went, even though he did wobble around that last bend, but we’re pushing on. He’s working really well and he’s freshened up nicely. His work this week has been first class so hopefully he’s bounced back.”

Boss has long had a reputation as a promising galloper after winning both his trials but a slow getaway proved costly to punters who had made him a $1.80 favourite on debut at Wanganui in January.

Freshened, he made no race of his next start at Hawera, leading throughout for jockey Sam Collett, who again takes the reins on Sunday.

“We’re going into this race confident he’ll run well,” Benner said.

“I’ve always had a good opinion of him. He’s smart and he seems to handle it wet, certainly he’s got through it well in trackwork, so we don’t think that will be a problem on Sunday.”

Benner and Wynyard have three horses entered for Trentham but McPhoebe is a doubtful starter on heavy going for the suitably-named Scott Base Cup (1400m).

“She’s a question mark to start. It depends on the track,” Benner said. “Lodi is overdue her maiden win but a heavy track is a concern for her too.”

Benner reported that stable star Scott Base was enjoying an autumn break, with the Hawke’s Bay triple crown weight-for-age series next spring a likely aim.

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