Resurgent Sword of Osman Stars

Date: 23 Oct 2018

Resurgent Sword of Osman Stars
The Informant reports:

Group One galloper Sword Of Osman got his season back on track with an all-the-way win in the Gr. 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa this afternoon.

The son of Savabeel delivered three of the most scintillating performances of his generation last season, headed by the Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie in March.

He was well below that level in his first two spring starts, finishing sixth in the Gr. 3 Northland Breeders' Stakes and fifth in the Gr. 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas, but today he turned everything around.

Rider Opie Bosson enjoyed an uncontested lead through the early stages of the $100,000 feature. When Qiji Express switched off heels and pounced in the straight with a potent challenge, Sword Of Osman rose to meet him.

At the end of a pulsating, head-bobbing battle in the last 100 metres, Sword Of Osman held out Qiji Express by a nose. The favourite Madison County stormed home out wide to run third, four and a quarter lengths behind the first pair.

Earlier this spring, Sword Of Osman held fixed-odds favouritism for the Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas on November 10. He blew out to $41 following his Hawke's Bay Guineas defeat, and was still at $26 before today's race. But he is now back down to $7, sharing second favouritism with his stablemate Our Flying Ace.

Bosson has won the 2000 Guineas a record seven times, and he is looking forward to partnering Sword Of Osman in this year's edition of the Riccarton classic.

“He relaxed beautifully today,” he said. “He got a nice soft lead, then quickened up really well. He'll definitely run the mile (1600m) out in the 2000 Guineas.

“I'm rapt with how the horse has turned the corner since his last run. He's relaxing better in his work, looking better in his coat and on the way up. I liked the way he went right to the line, and I'm looking forward to the Guineas.”

Trainer Jamie Richards has already saddled a remarkable 27 winners this season including six at stakes level, but this was clearly one of the most satisfying.

“Scott Lucock and the team at the colts' barn have done a really good job to get him back on track,” the premiership leader said.

“He took a while to come out of the winter, but I'm really pleased he's done it for a terrific group of owners.

“He's been in really good form at home, we haven't been able to fault his work. He was given a lovely ride by Opie, who's such an important part of the team. He rides him in all his gallops and has worked very hard in his comeback, so I'm thrilled he's got this win.

“I'd say Sword Of Osman has clinched a trip to the Guineas with this win. It's been a good race in the past, so why not?”

Bred by Joan Egan and raced by the Te Akau Great Sword Syndicate, Sword Of Osman has now won four of his eight starts and more than $256,000 in prize-money.

Qiji Express has shortened from $41 to $10 in the Guineas following today's bold performance, and his Hawke's Bay Guineas-winning stablemate Madison County remains the $2.80 favourite.

Michael Wallace, the racing manager for owners the China Horse Club, was far from disappointed by today's strong-finishing third.

“The 2000 Guineas is still on the radar, absolutely,” he said. “He was brought undone by the slow tempo, once the leader got away with those easy sectionals he was going to be very hard to overhaul. The final 600 time of 34.19 tells the story of the race.”

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