First up specialist The Bostonian has been backed into favouritism on race morning for the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick today.

The Bostonain, above in the blue and grey colours, is the new favourite for the 2020 Winx Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

A rally of support has seen The Bostonian’s price tumble in from $8.50 to $5.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au, taking over the top spot from Master Of Wine who is now on the second line of betting at $6.

The Bostonian has won six of his seven first up attempts and Kiwi trainer Tony Pike agrees with the punters and said that three times Group 1 winner is going as good as he was before scoring a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Heineken 3 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick at the beginning of his 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign.

“Things are falling into place. The soft track, gate one and his fresh record is obviously enticing some punters to think he’s a strong chance winning chance in the race,” Pike told AAP.

“His work on Monday morning before he jumped on the plane was exceptional, so I think he’s in very similar condition to what he was before the Canterbury Stakes.”

As well as winning the Canterbury Stakes, The Bostonian collected back to back Group 1 wins during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival with victories in the $800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben and in the $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.

Nash Rawiller was aboard The Bostonian for his first up win in the Canterbury Stakes but Jay Ford gets his first ride on the six year old Kiwi sprinter today in the Winx Stakes.