James McDonald has replaced Opie Bosson on San Bernardino in the Pegasus Handicap at Riccarton today with a view to the Stewards' Handicap on Wednesday.
"I wanted the same rider in both races and Opie is committed to another horse in the Stewards," Graeme Rogerson, the co-trainer of San Bernardino, said.
San Bernardino has not raced since he finished fifth in the Stewards' 12 months ago. He was down to resume at Rotorua on October 16 but broke away in his preliminary, resulting in a late scratching.
He had won the weight-for-age 1200m race at Rotorua fresh-up in his other start last season.
San Bernardino won the Stewards' at Riccarton two years ago, the first 3yr-old to win the race since the Wingatui-trained Susan Jane in 1970.
He was then out of commission with a fractured cannon bone and he did not race again for 11 months.
Rogerson won the Pegasus with Brenlaine, ridden by Jim Cassidy, in 1982.
Bosson has taken the ride on Tip The Wink in the Stewards. The Mike Breslin-trained Tip The Wink won the Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham and the listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Awapuni last season.
The Stravinsky mare was a last-start third at Wanganui on October 16 in her second start back from a spell.
Bosson has been engaged for King's Rose in the One Thousand Guineas.
Patrick Holmes has the mount on Hoofit in the Two Thousand Guineas. He was listed to ride at Te Rapa today. He won the race on Magic Cape in 2006
• Jason Collett, of Pukekohe, is representing New Zealand in two races of a series for international apprentices at Macau tomorrow.
Apprentices from 12 countries are competing. Collett is third on the list of apprentice riders for New Zealand this season with 32 wins behind James McDonald (34) and Daniel Stackhouse (33). Collett has ridden a total of 167 winners.
Terry Kennedy, the Wingatui trainer, and Fred King, the North Taieri owner, have each won a new car through the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme administered by Cambridge Thoroughbred Sales.
Lesley Brook, trained by Kennedy for the FA King Family Trust, amassed most points in the series during the 2009-10 season.
The Kia cars, valued at $34,000, will be presented at the Wellington meeting on December 4, Tarissa Mitchell, representing CTS, said.
• John McKenzie, chief investigator (formerly racecourse inspector) for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, has announced his retirement, effective from November 16.
He was appointed a racecourse inspector with the NZ Racing Conference (now NZTR) in 1976 after serving with the New Zealand police. He was based in Wellington and worked for racing and harness racing codes.
He was based in Auckland from 1981 for the thoroughbred code, being appointed chief racecourse inspector in 1997.
McKenzie said racing had a fair and transparent process to deal with raceday and non-raceday inquiries.
"Much of this is due to the introduction of the Judicial Control Authority, with competent people to handle inquiries and an experienced panel of legally qualified members to deal with appeals," he said.
• Rosie Myers was suspended four days for careless riding at Gisborne yesterday. She is out from Friday until midnight on November 18.
Myers, riding Darby Shaw, admitted shifting in at the 1400m in race 1, causing checks to Steel and Desperado.
• Additional information for the meetings today. -
WAIKATO RC
Riders
Race 5: Andre Joubert - C Parish (not P Holmes). Medici - C Ormsby.
Race 6: Francilienne - C Parish; Insightful - C Ormsby.
Race 10: Xalted - H Kasim (2).
Scratchings
Race 1: Otto The Great.
Race 5: El Paso, Dolmabache.
Race 6: Roly Poly.
Race 9: Sun Ruler.
Race 10: Lady Of Petersburg.
Race 11: Mydiamond Bracelet.
Weather, drizzling; track, good (3); rail, out 6m.
CANTERBURY JC
Riders
Race 5: San Bernardino - J McDonald (a) (not O Bosson).
Race 7: Hoofit - P Holmes.
Race 8: Selenus - L Allpress.
Race 9: Selenus - C Spittles (a).
Scratchings
Race 3: Overdraft.
Weather, raining; track, dead (4); rail, true.
FORBURY PARK TC
Drivers
Race 3: Lady Mary G - M Williamson (j).
Race 7: King Of Hearts - N Williamson.
Scratchings
Race 1: Howzatfora Sundon, Mantovani.
Race 3: The Georgia Peach, Maggie Bromac, Bye Bye Sir.
Race 7: Seel N Print, Ipredictariot, Honey Delight, Essene, Markeaton Navi.
Race 8: Dolly Would.
Race 9: Everydaysagoodday.
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
