TOP jockey Todd Pannell is preparing to miss three Adelaide meetings to ride exciting four-year-old Beau Rossa in Saturday week’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
“It’s obviously all still dependant on what’s happening in Melbourne but at this stage I’m hoping to ride the horse in the Memsie and then quarantine for two weeks at home’’ Pannell said.
Fresh from riding his 1000th career win at Morphettville last weekend, Pannell’s commitment to the horse speaks volumes of his opinion of the four-year-old who beat home Behemoth in last weekend’s Group 3 Spring Stakes before losing the race on protest.
“I’ve always thought he was right up there with the best horses I’ve ridden,’’ Pannell said.
“He’d be right up there alongside Behemoth. Bella Vella was a very nice horse, but he’s always given me the impression he can be top class.
“He’s pulled up well from the Spring Stakes, he fought hard when he was put under pressure and I’m sure he can measure-up in Melbourne,’’ he said.
