Knoydart is set to face leading Queensland sprinters Buffering and Spirit Of Boom in the 2014 BTC Cup at Doomben next weekend after being included in the nominations for the Group 1 event.
Knoydart will have the chance to score his maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 BTC Cup at Doomben next weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Knoydart stamped himself as a horse to watch with two impressive victories in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) on January 24 and the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on February 12 before finishing third behind Lankan Rupee and Spirit Of Boom in both the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
After a brief freshen-up, Knoydart returned to the races in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday and looked the winner at the 200 metre mark, but was unable to run down Hot Snitzel in the final stages of the race.
Spirit Of Boom and Buffering have both recorded Group 1 victories, but will have the chance to score their maiden win at the highest level of racing in their home state in the BTC Cup on May 10.
Buffering will be having the first race start of his 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign in the BTC Cup, while Spirit Of Boom will be backing up from his second place finish in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last weekend.
Spirit Of Boom will be joined in the 2014 BTC Cup field by stablemate Temple Of Boom, who returned to his best form with a brave win in the Victory Stakes last weekend.
Temple Of Boom had not scored a race win since he took out the 2012 edition of the Group 1 The Galaxy (1200m), but responded well to new jockey Tegan Harrison to score an upset win at massive odds.
Snitzerland finished third behind the Boom Brothers in the Victory Stakes and could have the chance to turn-the-tables on the pair in the BTC Cup.
The daughter of Snitzel had her Sydney autumn preparation disrupted by wet weather, but was able to score a well-deserved Group 1 victory in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.
Another Group 1 winner that has been included in the 2014 BTC Cup nominations is Joseph Pride-trained Tiger Tees.
Tiger Tees scored his maiden win at Group 1 level in The Galaxy and proved that performance was no fluke with a solid fourth in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and an impressive third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) last weekend.
Famous Seamus, Hot Snitzel, Peron, Plucky Belle and The White Hope are among the other horses that have been nominated for the BTC Cup.
