Ron Quinton has never been scared to give an apprentice a chance and James Innes jnr will be the latest to get an opportunity on evergreen sprinter Boss Lane at Randwick on Saturday.
The seven-year-old drops back from the black-type level of the Christmas Classic at his second run from a spell and has been given the top weight of 61.5 kilograms, which will be offset by Innes' two-kilogram claim.
"He has got a lot of weight and needs a claim," Quinton said. "He is probably a bit high up in the ratings for the sort of horse he is now, but he loves Randwick and goes well second up.
"He has definitely improved off the other day and he has always been a good horse for an apprentice.
"Sam [Clipperton] won on him when he was with me and Andrew Adkins, Travis Wolfgram and Taylor Marshall have all won on him.
"James is a good rider and very strong, so he will suit him, and it would be good if he can make it five apprentices to have won on him."
Boss Lane has won seven times at Randwick, but his record over the 1000 metres stands out. He has won twice over the distance, one of those in this race two years ago, and also was third to English in a photo finish in the Challenge Stakes.
"He is getting that little older and this is probably his level," Quinton said. "I would like to see him with a bit less weight because you know what you are going to get from him.
"He is so honest and should be there at the end."
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