In racing, there are quite a few yarns about the right man being at the right place, at the right time. Glen Boss is the latest lucky blighter who may feel that way this Sunday.

When Vlad Duric broke the news last week he could not ride Alibi in the Lion City Cup (1200m), Michael Clements' assistant-trainer Michael White was at first startled, but as he looked around while still trying to grapple with the news, guess who rocked up, blissfully unaware of the good fortune about to befall him around the corner.

Yes, Boss himself.

White and Clements would not have to look high and low in their search for an apt replacement in the third - and by far the most prestigious - Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series. The three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey is also Clements' unbeaten three-year-old Countofmontecristo's partner in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on Friday.

"It was certainly one of those fortuitous situations in racing," said White.

"Shortly after Vlad told me at trackwork he could not ride Alibi as he was committed to the ride on Wimbledon, at that very moment, Bossy happened to be walking into the holding area.

"When I asked him if he had any ride in the Lion City Cup, he said Speedy Dragon (whom he rode in the Rocket Man Sprint, the second Leg) was out and he was pretty much free. That's how we got our new jockey for Alibi.

"Vlad knows Alibi inside out (seven rides from his nine starts for all his five wins), but Bossy is a multiple-Group 1-winning rider who needs no introduction. We were lucky to have got him on Alibi."

Boss said he actually thought he was on Wimbledon, and even if he would have been happy either way, he did not mind the switcheroo.

"It will be a step-up for Alibi, but in saying this, it's not the strongest of Lion City Cup this year and like Michael said, it's the right time to test him," said Boss.

"I actually thought I would be riding Wimbledon, but it has worked out well in the end.

"Alibi's probably a little worse off at the handicaps, but there aren't that many weight-for-age horses in the race except for Emperor Max.

"He has not raced for a year, but regardless of how he is going, he has a few lengths ahead of the rest, and you have to respect him."

White said while he understood it was a free world we lived in, and jockeys are entitled to make their own decisions, he for one thought Duric may have pulled the wrong rein, but he would be the first to congratulate him if Wimbledon won on Sunday.

"The only way I'd be happy for Vlad is if he won on Wimbledon. Look, this is racing, and for all you know, he may well win it!' he said.

"We respect his decision as it was based on his loyalty to James. We don't have any problem with Vlad and he still rides horses for us when we can put him on, though I'm not so sure about Alibi.

"But I think he knows he may not be on the best horse in the Lion City Cup. This is the best Alibi's ever gone and this is the right time for him to go for a Group race.

"You couldn't get a line between Alibi and Lim's Cruiser (the winner) in the EW Barker Trophy because last year, Alibi was coming to the end of a long preparation and he was not at his best.

"It was not one of Joao Moreira's vintage rides either…"

Not many people dare bag the mercurial Brazilian jockey, but White for one was not too impressed with his handling of Alibi ($11 favourite) in the race over 1400m when fifth to Lim's Cruiser.

"Alibi has really improved off his last run," said White in reference to his first-up win (when ridden by Duric) in a Benchmark 83 race over 1200m on March 31.

"It's harder this time, but before he goes towards the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the Lion City Cup came at the right moment for a run in between.