Boss to monitor Royal Descent for Caulfield Cup

In form jockey Glen Boss will monitor the performance of Royal Descent at Flemington on Saturday with the thought of riding the Chris Waller trained mare in the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19.

Royal Descent winning the Australian Oaks by 10 lengths at Randwick.

Royal Descent winning the Australian Oaks by 10 lengths at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Royal Descent will line up in a star studded Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and is expected to run a mighty race coming off three placings in Sydney this preparation.

Boss racked up Group 1 win number eighty-six last Sunday on Rebel Dane in the $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and would dearly love to add the Caulfield Cup to his trophy cabinet.

The premiership winning jockey came so close on triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva in 2004 when beaten a nose by Elvstroem and a win would see him join an elite group of riders who have won the Grand Slam  of Group 1s on the Australian racing calendar, the Golden Slipper, the Cox Plate and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

“I was beaten a whisker on Makybe Diva in the cup. The Caulfield Cup is one of the majors in this nation, alongside the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper. I’ve won the other three, so the Caulfield Cup is a race I dearly want to win,” Boss told the Herald Sun.

Boss grabbed the hearts of all Australian racegoers and punters when he rode Makybe Diva to win the pair’s third consecutive Melbourne Cup in 2005, he also rode Ocean Park last year to win his second Cox Plate, his first being on Makybe Diva in 2005, and he has also ridden two Golden Slipper winners, Flying Spur (1995) and Sebring (2008).

“It is the biggest mile-and-a-half (2400m) race in the world and is attracting horses from around the world. I hope this is my year to notch it,” Boss said.

Royal Descent showed her staying ability with a ten lengths win in the Group 1 $550,000 Patinack Farm Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in the Autumn.

Boss has been following the Spring performances of Royal Descent to date which include three placings from three outings.

She ran second first up in the Group 3 $125,000 Kari Aboriginal Resources Inc. Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Warwick Farm on August 24, then third in the Group 3 $125,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 7 followed by a second in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 21.

“I couldn’t be happier with her return to the track this campaign,” Boss said.

“We know she can stay and she can handle any ground – she won The Oaks by 10 lengths on a heavy 10. It is all adding up to a genuine chance in the Caulfield Cup. You reckon you are in the hunt on a mare like her.”

Royal Descent ($7.50) is fighting out Caulfield Cup favouritism with stable mate Hawkspur ($7) just in front of the Mark Kavanagh trained Super Cool at $9.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.