OSMOND TAKES FLIGHT FOR MAIDEN BRISBANE VENTURE

NEWCASTLE apprentice Ben Osmond will “swap places” with fellow Queensland jockey Andrew Mallyon to ride interstate for the first time at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

With Mallyon heading south to stick with his Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Yellow Brick – who is scheduled to resume in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick en route to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) there on October 4 – Osmond’s master, leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, has called on him to fill the bill.

He will partner last start winners Bengal Boy (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2206m) and Barazin (Benchmark 85 Handicap, 1835m).

Mallyon was aboard both; Bengal Boy at the same track a fortnight ago, and Barazin at the Coffs Harbour Cup meeting on August 1.

“Kris was looking to claim on both horses, and I’m happy to go to Brisbane,” Osmond said this afternoon.

“It will be a good experience riding interstate for the first time, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Osmond, 26, who is scheduled to graduate to the senior ranks at the end of May next year, is coming off his best ever season, riding 58 winners in 2024-25, more than 20 of them in Sydney.

He will claim 2kg on Bengal Boy and Barazin, and the same on three “outside” rides – one of them The Kosciuszko hopeful Without Parallel, in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).

Without Parallel, a lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Time Test, is prepared at Murwillumbah by Matthew Dunn, and ins unbeaten from four starts.

She created a big impression at her Sydney debut when, ridden by Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, bolted away with a Class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 2 on a heavy track.

“Nice to pick up the ride on Without Parallel,” Osmond said. “She looks pretty handy.”

Without Parallel is currently at $11 with TAB.com.au for the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on October 18, but a dominant $2.40 favorite for Saturday’s assignment.

Osmond, who rode his first winner Lily’s Lolly at a non-TAB meeting at Gulgong on June 13, 2021 for his initial boss, Muswellbrook trainer Todd Howlett, has now tallied 120 career winners.

His other Eagle Farm bookings are The Catch (No Metropolitan Win Handicap, 1400m) and Mob Buster (CG&E Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m).

Story John Curtis, August 21, 2025