Doncaster Mile winning jockey Glen Boss is set to take control of the reins on Gallic Chieftain in the 2019 Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) on Day Two of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Jockey Glen Boss will ride Gallic Chieftain, above, in the 2019 Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Singapore based Boss replaces Damian Lane who rode Gallic Chieftain to victory on Day One of The Championships at Randwick last Saturday in the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Quality (2600m).
Lane was unable to get down to Gallic Chieftain’s Sydney Cup weight of 51.5kg which made way for the lightweight Boss who rode the Team Hawkes trained Brutal at 49.5kg to win the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander said that it would have been nice to have the same jockey on Gallic Chieftain in the Sydney Cup, but he is very happy to have a jockey with the Group 1 winning record of Boss.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t keep the same jockey because it made sense but Glen Boss has ridden more Group I winners than nearly anyone so we’re happy to have him on,” Alexander told Racenet.
“We couldn’t be happier with him. He’s got a good barrier, a light weight and a top jockey.”
Alexander said that he will have no excuses if Gallic Chieftain wasn’t able to back up in seven days after an easy week since gaining a start in the feature two miler of The Championships.
“He’s tackling two miles as a fresh horse now,” Alexander said.
“This time, he’s nice and fresh and well.”
“I think sometimes the easier part of winning in Sydney is the second week because the first week, you have got to travel up there and acclimatise in 24 hours, then run.”
“This week has been a lot easier. He’s had a nice easy week at Warwick Farm and he’s in great form.”
Gallic Chieftain has raced once over 3200m for a third in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Cup at Sandown at the end of the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival while the 2600m of the Chairman’s Quality is the furthest the French import has won over.
Gallic Chieftain has drawn barrier seven in the capacity twenty horse Sydney Cup field and is marked as a $16 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au while the Charlie Appleby trained English stayer Dubhe is the $3.40 favourite.
Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride on Dubhe (barrier 4) who had two runs in Dubai on his way to Australia and is coming off a last start win over 3200m at Meydan on February 7.
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