Photo: Trish Dunell
Christmas festivities will take a back seat to racing commitments for champion jockey Opie Bosson this year.
Bosson has already enjoyed a family Christmas celebration, allowing his focus to centre around racing's busiest period of the calendar.
Heading a strong book of rides at Pukekohe on Boxing Day is the Mark Walker-trained Prise De Fer, a last-start winner of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham for jockey Michael McNab while Bosson was sidelined through suspension.
Bosson is reunited with the Savabeel seven-year-old, who was purchased out of Trelawney Stud's New Zealand Bloodstock draft as a yearling, in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe on Monday, having already recorded four wins on the perennial Group One performer.
"He'd been knocking on the door for a while and it was great to see him get that Group One win last time," Bosson said.
"He seems to have come through the race great too. I galloped him yesterday (Wednesday) morning and he's jumping out of his skin. He's taken a lot of confidence out of that win and he feels great. I'm really looking forward to getting back on him for the big one on Boxing Day.
"The horse seems really happy at the moment. He's doing everything right. He's in-form and he's got the runs on the board."
TAB bookmakers have installed Prise De Fer as a $4 second favourite for the Zabeel Classic behind last-start Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) winner Sinarahma, who finished a luckless second behind the Te Akau charge in last month's Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Bosson has a strong Boxing Day book, built around key rides for Walker in feature races.
He sticks with impressive last-start Te Rapa winner Wild Night in the Listed Shaw's Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
"He's going well and he's got a good draw (in barrier two). Hopefully he handles the right-handed way around," Bosson said.
"His work has been good and he's come through that first-up run pretty well. At this stage, he's still untapped. He's a very good horse and it looks like the best of him is still to come." -NZ Racing Desk