Top jockey Glen Boss thought for a second it was either him or Bridget Gray who possessed telepathic powers as he hopped off Bahana at his last race, the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m) on May 14.

The Dester Singapore Gold Cup winner was at his second run since his November triumph, finishing 11th more than six lengths off the dead-heating pair of War Affair and Storm Troops. Boss was at his first ride on the Elusive City five-year-old.

As he pulled the Indonesian-owned galloper up after the line, the Australian Hall of Fame jockey had only one word flashing in his mind – blinkers.

As he stepped off the scales at the weigh-in, trainer Stephen Gray’s wife “beat him to it” in uttering the word.

“As we pulled up, I was thinking this horse needs blinkers at his next race,” said Boss.

“But the moment I got off, Bridget told me exactly the same thing. That was so unreal!

“We put them on at his next trial (Tuesday), just to put him to the test, and it worked out very well. When you do the numbers, it was a huge trial.

“He dropped back right away, but from the 300m, I took him out wide and he quickened really well to win the trial.”

 

Bahana’s last three wins may have come over 2000m and 2200m, but Boss said the new 1800m trip of Sunday’s $500,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup will suit him down to the ground.

“The 1800m is at his stage of his prep ideal for him,” said Boss who won last year’s renewal – the last over 2000m – with Laughing Gravy, who is incidentally back for his title defence.

“The first time I rode him, I was a little disappointed as I thought he was 1 ½ lengths better than that. But he is a stayer and he was second-up, so I understand all that.

“He may not be a weight-for-age horse, but then there is probably only one horse who is (War Affair). Look, War Affair is a champion horse, but it was a massive effort first-up over 1400m, for him to go up to 1800m next, it may be a bit tougher this time.

“But I don’t know the horse well, I could be wrong, as he is such a champion, but my horse is a decent horse and I know you will see a more switched on horse on Sunday.

“After we put the shades on him, he was okay in the trial, but at the stables, I was told they could not hold him.”

Boss is not dismissing any of his rivals in the race, but if there is one horse he is the most wary of, it is Jupiter Gold, the baby of the race.

“I think Takaoka’s three-year-old will be the big danger,” he said.

“He’s always been looking for more distance and he’s going to get it in the QEII Cup. He’s the real deal that horse.”

Gray also saddles the Paul Hickman duo of Newlands and Twickenham in the QEII Cup, and according to the yard, they will both be presented at their best on Sunday.