Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
The addition of blinkers and a super ride by Opie Bosson resulted in Tuxedo (Tivachi) taking out the first $1 million race on Karaka Millions night at Ellerslie, the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m).
The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-prepared four-year-old has always shown massive promise and was a dual stakes winner during his three-year-old campaign before resuming with two meritorious performances in Group One company in the spring.
Given a break after finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa in September, the son of Waikato Stud stallion Tivaci resumed with a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) before running a cracker second-up for fifth in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
With blinkers added to sharpen him up for his main assignment, Tuxedo proved an armchair ride for Bosson who had him positioned beyond midfield in a strung-out field early in the running, before taking gaps between horses as he forced his way into the clear after straightening.
Hinekaha, who had had the drop on the leaders around the home turn, burst to the lead and looked the winner at the 200m, however, Bosson and Tuxedo were in the clear and powering home as they swamped the gallant mare in the shadows of the post to score by a long neck, with Aussie raider Knobelas running on strongly to take third.
Ritchie, who along with the connections of the horse, looked resplendent in the group’s signature black tuxedo worn to every meeting the four-year-old races at, thanked the large group of owners albeit with a tongue-in-cheek caveat on their next purchase.
“He has always shown us plenty of ability and I felt the blinkers would help him,” Ritchie said.
“I’m delighted for my clients who have been with us for years and years and have put a lot of money in.
“Days like this are what it is all about although I hope they don’t buy a filly and call it Mini Skirt as I won’t look that flash.
“They have been at the Sales this week having a look around and they enjoy every moment of it.”
Ritchie was quick to advise he hadn’t given Bosson any riding instructions prior to the horse heading out on to the track.
“You don’t give Opie Bosson instructions on Karaka Million night,” he said.
“I did say one thing in that when you do go for him, I think the blinkers will swich him on like they did in trackwork last week.
“I’d love to have a little crack in Australia with this horse but we will stay at home now where maybe the Otaki mile (Gr.1, 1600m) and Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) would be nice targets.”
A win in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 7 would be a poignant moment for Ritchie, who was the strapper for the champion galloper the race is named after.
Bosson was confident he was on a winning chance a long way from home and was delighted to win another of the richest race on a night where he has obtained cult status from a massive group of supporters who descend on the meeting each year.
“The blinkers made a big difference as he travelled beautifully and across the top he started coming up underneath me,” he said.
“All I needed was a split and when he got out and got balanced up, he just did the rest.
“When I got clear I knew I was a big chance but then they kicked clear on the inside, but he stuck his head down and got the job done.
“I missed this meeting last year so to get back in the saddle and win a big one is a great feeling.”
Tuxedo was a $70,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. His 12-start career has produced five wins, three seconds and $1,037,235 in stakes.
