The 2014 Inglis Classic chances of Robbie Laing-trained Boomwaa were increased this morning; with the classy two-year-old drawing barrier two for the $250,000 million event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Boomwaa will jump from barrier two in the Inglis Classic at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Boomwaa was already considered one of the leading chances for the Inglis Classic, before the barrier draw, after he returned to the races with a strong second place finish behind the talented Fighting Sun in the ATC Membership On Sale Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 4.
The Mutawaajid gelding had three starts during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival; finishing third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) and fourth in the Inglis Banner (1000m) before stamping himself as a leading juvenile with a most impressive victory in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.
Laing is confident that Boomwaa can record the second win of his career in the Inglis Classic this weekend and has big plans for juvenile during the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival – with the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) on the agenda for the talented gelding.
“He will come straight home and have an easy time, only for a week, and then he will run in the Blue Diamond Prelude,” Laing told Racing Ahead yesterday.
“If he runs well enough in that to justify a run in the Blue Diamond he will go there, otherwise he might go to the Sires Produce.”
The biggest threat to Boomwaa’s chances in the Inglis Classic was expected to come from undefeated New Zealand-trained gelding Vinnie Eagle, but the son of I Am Invincible will need plenty of luck after drawing at the outside of the field.
Vinnie Eagle made his racing debut with a comfortable win in the Caci Whangarei Stakes (880m) at Ruakaka on September 14, before stamping himself as a horse to watch with a dominant two and a half lengths win over Steel Rose and Vespa in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Boomwaa and Vinnie Eagle are the only two horses in the 2014 Inglis Classic field that have recorded racing wins, while Marc Quinn-trained Thiltre (barrier one) and Myboycharlie filly Peggy Jean (barrier two) both finished second in their racing debuts.
The 2013 Inglis Classic was won by Gai Waterhouse-trained debutant Marseille Roulette, while Laing finished third with the talented Direct Charge.
