Boomba toughs it out to win Singapore Golden Horseshoe
The Barree Stable colours flew high for the second year running in the Singapore Golden Horseshoe (Gr 3, 1200m) when Boomba (Showcasing) came with a grinding run to claim top prize right on the line.
Last year, the Australian outfit headed by Glenn Whittenbury were successful with their stable superstar Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor), even if the two-year-old feature race was then staged as the culmination of a five-race series sponsored by Aushorse.
As it has been across the board on the racing calendar, Covid-19 has turned the juvenile series upside down this year – no lead-up races, only one race and downgraded from Group 2 to Group 3 with prize-money halved, and probably the most significant change and a bit of an anachronism, it’s open to three-year-olds given its late date of December, having been switched from July.
While Inferno is indisputably from another stratosphere, his Cliff Brown-trained stablemate Boomba fully deserved his own moment in the sun, albeit from a watered-down version of the Golden Horseshoe.
The son of Showcasing (Oasis Dream) is certainly not without budding qualities, boasting one win on debut and a last-start third in a novice race, but his barrier 13 raised some concerns in a wide-open race where no standouts jumped off the paper.
Regular partner Ruan Maia, however, rode Boomba like he was the best horse in the race, parking him behind the leading trio in a three-wide position, punching the wind outside stablemate Golden Way (Swiss Ace), but seemingly galloping comfortably within his own steam.
Any doubts whether the New Zealand-bred had any petrol left in the tank were quickly answered when he was clicked up for the moment of truth.
Infinite Wisdom (All Too Hard) was first to throw down the gauntlet when he collared the leader Ablest Ascend (Charm Spirit) and looked to be holding sway, but Boomba was hot on his heels.
At the 200 metres, the well-backed pair were running away from the weakening Ablest Ascend, with Infinite Wisdom in front and Boomba steadfastly wearing him down.
The pink and white Barree silks were in hot contention for a second hurrah, even if it was definitely not in the same mould as Inferno’s dominant romp from last year, not to mention a late intrigue was thrown into the mix when an orange flash burst onto the scene.
After wedging his way through a tight passage, the Arexevan Stable-owned Relentless (Hallowed Crown) was sailing home at the rate of knots, and for a split second, gave the impression he could finish over the top of the fighting duo, but despite hie rider’s desperate urgings, Tim Fitzsimmons’ runner got to the wire too late.
In a thrilling three-way go, Boomba lunged at the post to down Infinite Wisdom by a short head, while Relentless had to settle for third place, another neck away.
Favourite Lim’s Straight (Strategic Maneuver) had every chance after settling nicely tucked away in the box-seat, but did not reproduce the same dash as at his impressive winning debut. He stayed one-paced to run a disappointing ninth.
Sent out at $25, Boomba ran the 1200 metres on the short course in 1min 10.9secs.
Not only did the gutsy win conjure up echoes of last year’s success for Brown and Barree, but it also served as the perfect appetiser to their main course next Sunday, Inferno’s daring raid on the Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m).
With Brown and racing manager Chris Bock already in Hong Kong to oversee their champion’s preparation, it was left to senior track rider Tony Lane to give the debrief on Boomba’s pulsating win back home.
“Boomba is still immature and can only improve further, but he showed a great fighting spirit today,” said Lane.
“There were no specific instructions from Cliff, he told Maia to just ride him where he was comfortable. If they go quick, the plan was to try and get in behind as he has natural speed, too, and it’s worked out well.
“He’s not in the same league as Inferno, that’s for sure, but he’s done very well for us. It’s up to Cliff to decide what he would like to plan for him now.”
Maia for one was delighted he had notched a third ‘black type’ race, even if a Group 3 race may not carry the same hype as the Kranji Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) and Raffles Cup (Gr 1, 1600m), both captured with Aramaayo (Poet’s Voice).
“I’ve always believed in this horse. I’ve ridden him from his first trial,” said the Brazilian jockey.
“He has really improved a lot and I was confident he would run well today even if I was scared of the barrier.
“But I know he has good gate speed and he jumped very well. I wanted him to travel near the leaders today.
“At his last start, I waited for the last 200 metres but he was a bit flat and ran third. I was closer this time, and waited a bit longer, and it worked out better.”
With an earlier win aboard Eunos Ave Three (Swiss Ace), Maia was ringing up a double which has enabled him to chip away two precious wins from leader Vlad Duric’s nine-win lead, reigniting a small hope he can still catch the three-time Singapore champion jockey, who came home empty-handed yesterday, with three race meetings remaining in the Singapore season.
The leaderboard now stands as Duric on 63 winners with Maia trailing by seven winners on 56.
Harry steady as a Rokk in his choice
Here’s an easy one for you: Would you turn down a ride on a confirmed starter when your horse is the second emergency acceptor?
The answer would be a no-brainer: ‘hell no’.
Jockey A’Isisuhairi ‘Harry’ Kasim said ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to trainer James Peters when approached for the ride on Arc Triumph (Showcasing) in yesterday’s Pitstop 2012 Stakes (1100m).
The runner A’Isisuhairi had been booked well before, the Lee Freedman-trained You Rokk (Artie Schiller), was only the second standby starter – hence needing two scratchings to get promoted into the line-up.
Given the remote chances of getting in, the Malaysian jockey could have told Freedman to let him off for the Arc Triumph booking, but he took a very big punt. He stuck solid with the You Rokk booking.
And he was well rewarded for his blind faith in the entire when Surpass Natural (Elvstroem) and Nimble (Patronize) were scratched on Thursday, meaning both You Rokk and stablemate Augustano (Hard Spun) were in.
That was one prayer answered and only half the battle won. A’Isisuhairi still had to go out there and win the race for the gamble to be fully redeemed.
He didn’t need to pray too hard this time as the seven-year-old was clearly on song, aided by a bit of ducking and weaving into the home straight, which saw the last-minute pairing sneak in for a half-length win over Altair (Zoustar).
Webster (Showcasing) ran third another neck away. Sent out at lukewarm odds of $50, You Rokk was timed at 1min 4.38secs for the 1100 metres on the Polytrack.
“I was so confident You Rokk would win this race going on his last run and at the handicap,” said A’Isisuhairi.
“That’s why both Lee and myself were disappointed when he was only the EA2. I ride him in work and he has really improved from his last start, he needed the run then.
“I actually got an offer to ride James Peters’ horse but I turned it down. Somehow, I still hoped I could get in, it’s crazy, I know, but I believe in miracles.
“It was a big gamble and it’s paid off. The horse was super fit and Lee just told me to settle him where he is comfortable.
“We knew there would be plenty of speed, and he was travelling so well when we straightened up. When I saw a gap to my inside, we went through and he gave a strong kick to win.”
A five-time winner in Australia, You Rokk was bringing up his second Kranji win from 11 starts for owner Tony Torcasio.