Bostonian back for summer sprint features
One of last season’s best three-year-olds showed he has come back from a winter break in fine fettle with a dashing performance at the Cambridge trials last Thursday.
The Tony Pike-trained Bostonian completed a hat-trick of wins in Queensland during the winter with victory in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) capping an outstanding campaign.
The Jimmy Choux gelding was having his first serious hit-out in a new preparation when he easily accounted for his seven rivals over 935m on Thursday.
Allowed to lob along under his own steam by rider Vinnie Colgan, Bostonian was never out of second gear as he cruised to the line under a strong hold.
“He’s come back nicely after his break and I was pleased to see how he did things in his trial,” Pike said.
“Vinnie never had him off the bridle and he was strong to the line, so it was a satisfying work-out. “He’s never been that big, but he has filled out nicely over the winter, so we’re excited about his prospects for the summer.”
Pike has several options in mind for his charge including a possible Group 1 target during the Ellerslie Christmas carnival.
“As long as he does things right over the next few days, I think we might kick him off in the Counties Bowl at Pukekohe in a fortnight.
“If he goes well there then the Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s day is definitely an option.”
The Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) is one of the highlights during Counties Cup day at Pukekohe on November 24, where another Pike runner could make an appearance in the day’s headline event.
Like Bostonian, stablemate Terra Sancta enjoyed success during the Queensland winter and looks a fine staying prospect after finishing powerfully to run an unlucky sixth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
The Pierro four-year-old has had two runs back in a new campaign and caught the eye with a powerful finish for second behind the promising Mongolian Marshal over 1600m at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day.
“Terra Sancta was very good at Ellerslie and is making excellent progress this time in,” Pike said.
“She went a nice race first-up at Rotorua and then stepped up nicely at Ellerslie behind a pretty promising type.
“She will be at her best when she gets out over a middle-distance, so we have been looking at the options for her.
“She could contest the Counties Cup where she will get into the field on a nice light weight.
“After that there are a number of other options in those summer cup races as I think she can be very competitive from her place in the weights.”