Prince Of Boom spaces rivals in Group 2 Moreton Cup
In a throwback to his father Prince of Boom turned the tables on the field to take out the Group Two Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding won the $300,000 feature by a dominant three-length display under hoop Tim Clark paying $3.60 with online bookmakers.
His sire Spirit of Boom was a two-time Group One winner including the 2014 edition of the Doomben Cup and the bloodline is still strong if that performance is anything to go by.
From the gates, he got out to take up his position as natural leader and would give the field something to chase for the entire trip.
Accompanied by Frosty Rocks ($51) at the front he would go on to extend his lead to five lengths with 200m left to run.
2023 Group 2 Moreton Cup Replay – Prince Of Boom
Heathcote was happy with the run and his ability to control the race from the front.
“He did (lead well) and when he got such, reasonably soft sectionals in front with a guy like Tim Clark on board, who’s arguably the best front-running jockey in Australia, I knew he was going to be hard to run down,” Heathcote said.
“They’ve run 34.3 (last 600m), he was going to be hard to catch, wasn’t he?”
The victory marked his third Group company win following victories in the Group Two Champagne Stakes in 2021 and Group Three Gold Coast Guineas last year.
He had not seen a trip to the winner’s circle since April 15 when taking the spoils in the Listed Ascot Handicap over the Eagle Farm 1000m and his last start was a sixth placing in the Group One Doomben 10,000 last month.
It was Clark’s first time in the saddle with the winner and the hoop had a lot to say on the ride and his mount.
“He’s obviously a very talented horse and I was lucky to get the ride on him today,” he said.
“Obviously, the form behind Rothfire and Giga Kick was always going to hold up strong in a race like this. I thought he was pretty dynamic there.
“To me, it felt as though he didn’t dash off the mark, but for a good furlong he continued to build and get quicker.
“That’s where he was able to put a gap in them and he was really strong through the line in a good effort.”
The win is the first for trainer Heathcote after preparing placegetter Galah who finished third in the 2013 running of the feature.
Quantico ($3) trained by the John O’Shea stable and with James McDonald on board started as race favourite in his tilt at a second Group company win after winning the Group Three Southern Cross Stakes.
Far Too Easy ($7.50) trained by David McColm finished second with the O’Dea and Hoysted trained Contemptuous ($101) rounding out placings.
Heathcote said that the win set his Prince of Boom’s path to the Stradbroke Handicap strongly.
“I think we were into the Stradbroke anyway,” the trainer said.
“It just makes the decision a little easier for the owners.
“Look, I’m a realist, I know he’s going to find it tough, 1400m around here, but that was a Group 2 today and he put pay to them.”
“I’ll do what I’ve been doing with him.
“I take him down the beach quite a bit, the horse is going super.
“He started off with a win in the Ascot, he ran super in the Victory behind Rothfire and he’s run in the Doomben 10,000.
“He’s not quite Group 1 class at that level at weight-for-age, but he showed today he’s a serious racehorse.”