Appin Girl pushing for hat-trick in Spirit Of Boom Classic
Appin Girl is two from two for her career, and that has been rewarded with heavy backing in this weekend’s $300,000 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben.
Trained by Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, she will be guided again by Boris Thornton in the Group 2 after they combined for a strong win in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm last month.
She will come out of barrier one, putting her in a great alley over the 1200m and giving her the opportunity to dictate her own success.
However, this is her first go over the distance, stepping up from the 1000m, and she will need to be on pace from the jump against this field.
Trainer Hoysted said the unbeaten filly should relish the jump up in class.
“When she won as impressively as she did in the Listed race, we thought why not have a throw at the stumps in the Group 2?” he said.
“She has come through her last race in such good order, we thought we would have a crack at the big league.
“She has given us no reason not to run in this race on Saturday.
“She is going to have to go to another level taking on the competition on Saturday but she is a filly we think is right up to it.”
2023 Dalrello Stakes – Appin Girl (1st)
The other query heading into Saturday is the quality of horses Appin Girl has beaten in her two wins to date.
Dalrello Stakes runner-up She’s A Rogue finished 13th in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, whereas Empire Of Japan finished sixth in the same race.
The latter is paying $6 to win the Spirit Of Boom, and although the form doesn’t look flash, the quality of opposition is far superior than what he faces here.
The Snitzel x Ichihara colt ran a bold race in the Golden Slipper but didn’t handle the going in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, and his runs behind quality horses of the likes of Shinzo and Cylinder read well for this.
Ryan Maloney has booked the ride on the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt, who gets the seven gate.
Ducasse, a colt by Trapeze Artist, is sure to have some support after being an eye-catcher on debut, flying home to finish third to the Godolphin-trained Dipsy Doodle at Randwick on a bog track.
Last year’s edition was won by Swiss Exile, trained by Annabel Neasham, out of barrier six beating home Exo Lady by half a length.
This year Neasham prepares Addriel, who has two career starts for a second-placing and win last week over the Ipswich 1100m.
He was unlucky on debut but then blitzed them by 4.5 lengths in that Ipswich maiden, although this is a big jump in class.
“It is probably a throw at the stumps but he was impressive on Saturday,” said assistant trainer Todd Pollard.
“I hope he can show he is up to stakes grade but he is going to have to be at his very best.
“We did not expect him to win as well as what he did but he justified the short quote.
“He is going well so he deserves his chance on Saturday.
“It was a soft win on Saturday and we looked through the calendar and this was the only stakes race that was suitable over 1200 metres for a horse like him.
“He will need to be at his best but if he could run top three in a race like this – that would be great for the owners.”