Flying two year old Boomwaa will give the older horses something to chase when he explodes down the Flemington straight in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) on Saturday.
The lightly weighted Boomwaa will give the older horses something to chase down the Flemington straight. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing has decided to take on the older sprinters in the weight for age dash down the famous Flemington course and with only 46kg on his back, Laing thinks his youngster has a good chance to be in the finish.
“He is only ever going to be able to run in a Lightning with 46 (kilos) once,” Laing told AAP.
“His early speed in his races has improved so much that he’s very hard to hold off the lead over 1200 metres. He’s had the two runs up the straight for one easy win at Group level, so we thought we’d have a throw at the stumps and see how we go.
Boomwaa’s only win from five race starts was over the same course and distance as the Black Caviar Lightning in the Group 3 $150,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate (1000) on November 9 and along with the Team Hawkes’ speedy two year old Bugatty, also an on speed runner, Laing can see the older horses having a tough task to overall the lightly weighted juveniles.
“They will keep the older horses busy with their featherweight,” Laing said.
Both Laing and the Hawkes team of Michael, Wayne and John took the opportunity to pit their youngsters up against some seasoned sprinters in a race that has been dominated by champion mare Black Caviar who has won the race for the last three years.
Boomwaa with Deam Yendall in the saddle will jump from gate five in the thirteen horse field while Bugatty, who has also won over the 1000m down the Flemington straight, will jump from gate twelve with lightweight Dean Holland.
Gerald Ryan’s brilliant mare Snitzerland is also certain to take up a handy position from barrier ten with Brenton Avdulla while Group 1 winners Samaready (barrier 4) and Shamexpress (8) are certain to be steaming home late at the finish.
Laing has been pleased with the progress of Boomwaa since returning to Melbourne after a two run campaign in Sydney where the Mutawaajid two year old ran second to the Gai Waterhouse trained Fighting Sun over 1100m at Rosehill on January 4 then ran second again as favourite to Peggy Jean in the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at Randwick on January 18.
The trainer topped off Boomwaa’s Black Caviar Lightning preparation on Tuesday morning with youngters putting in a slashing gallop on the track.
“I let him run along with one that could run a bit and he sat back off it and ran away at the finish and broke 22 (seconds for the last 400m). It was really good work,” Laing said.
