Opie Bosson is back riding at Rotorua on Saturday after a fortnight on the sideline to cope with his weight.
His mounts include Mr Tipsy, the topweight in the Rotorua Plate (1950m). Bosson rode Mr Tipsy to a last-start win in the Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe.
Bosson has the mount on Rock `n' Pop in the Coupland Stakes at Ashburton on Sunday. He won the race last year on King's Rose, trained by Jason Bridgman, who prepares Rock `n' Pop.
Lisa Allpress will continue her association with El Chico when he resumes in the Ashburton Cup on Sunday. She rode the Stravinsky gelding in five of his six wins last season. She rode El Chico to a fresh-up win in the Ashburton Cup.
Split Decision outsped her rivals in a 1000m maiden at Winton yesterday to win by six lengths. The 4yr-old Savabeel mare, who had not raced for five months, is raced by her Tapanui trainers Nikki and Barrie Blatch on lease from Cambridge breeder Jen Campin.
"We knew she had ability as she was placed in three of her four starts last season despite not liking the wet tracks," Barrie Blatch said.
The Blatchs have had success with other horses secured through Campin. They include Likes To Rule, Viva La Danske, Twilight Affair and Green Chequers.
Likes To Rule won six races including the 2006 Clare Memorial Cup and listed Livinspace Stakes at Wingatui. Likes To Rule won a maiden race at Wingatui in 2004 in her first start as a 4yr-old. She was by Deputy Governor, the sire of Dupuessence, the dam of Split Decision. The Blatchs are breeding from Likes To Rule.
Foneeleven is now trained by Ross Beckett at Riccarton after a change of ownership. The Drama Critic gelding, who was sold for $5600 at the South Island sale in August, won seven races from the Michael Pitman stable when raced on lease.
• Matamata trainer Jon Sargent is confident Shanghai Bund can win at Hastings today and raise hopes of a start in the NZ Two Thousand Guineas, The New Zealand Herald reports.
Shanghai Bund injured a leg in a collision with the running rail fresh-up at Ruakaka on September 10. He finished seventh when cramped for room.
"We found there was a bit of swelling in a hind-leg cannon bone," Sargent said.
"We had the leg X-rayed and then had to take a bit of bone out, so he had to be walked for a week, but he's working good now." Shanghai Bund won at Te Aroha in April from four starts at 2. James McDonald, who rode him to win, has the mount today.
