Embellish & Opie to Melbourne

The Informant reports:

Opie Bosson will continue his association with New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Embellish when the Savabeel colt heads to Melbourne for a campaign aimed at the A$1 million Australian Guineas.

The booking was confirmed today by Te Akau principal David Ellis for a two-race campaign beginning with the Gr. 3 CS Hayes Stakes over 1400 metres at Flemington on February 17. That date clashes with Avondale Guineas day at Ellerslie, while the Australian Guineas over 1600 metres at Flemington is scheduled for New Zealand Derby day, March 3.

“Opie Bosson will ride Embellish in both races in Melbourne,” Ellis told www.theinformant.co.nz. “Our plans have been confirmed after discussions with his new part-owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay and our trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

“Until now he has raced in the Te Akau tangerine and blue, but he will carry the Lindsay Racing (black and gold) colours in Australia. I will continue as the partnership's racing manager.”

Bosson has ridden Embellish in all five of his starts this season, which began with a spring hat-trick completed by the 2000 Guineas and continued with a fresh-up fourth at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and long-neck second to Scott Base in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic eight days ago.

Ellis has also confirmed that Karaka Million 2YO winner Avantage will have her next start in the Gr. 1 Sistema (Diamond) Stakes at Ellerslie on March 10, and if she maintains her unbeaten formline the Fastnet Rock filly may earn a shot at the A$3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on March 24.

“Everything she has done to date says Avantage is a two-year-old of the highest class, so if she can continue that form into the autumn I believe she's entitled to be considered for the Golden Slipper,” Ellis said.