The 2014 Victory Stakes field has drawn a select field of talented sprinters; with eight classy gallopers set to contest the Group 2 event at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Spirit Of Boom will be returning to racing for the first time since he took out the William Reid Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Headlining the Victory Stakes field is Tony Gollan-trained Spirit Of Boom, who will be returning to Brisbane after recording his maiden win at Group 1 level in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 21.
Spirit Of Boom (barrier seven) finished second behind Lankan Rupee 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 before taking out the William Reid Stakes, but was scratched from the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) due to the heavy condition of the track.
The Sequalo entire, who will be retired to stud at the end of the racing season, will be joined in the Victory Stakes field by veteran stablemate Temple Of Boom (barrier eight), who failed to fire in three starts during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Another trainer with multiple runners in the 2014 Victory Stakes field is Robert Heathcote; with Solzhenitsyn and Fire Up Fifi set to contest the Group 2 event.
Solzhenitsyn will be returning to the races for the first time since he underwent throat surgery following disappointing performances in both the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival and will be partnered by veteran jockey Glen Colless.
Fire Up Fifi is returning to Brisbane racing after producing slightly disappointing performances in both the Group 3 Wiggle Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8 and the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and is chasing her maiden win at Group level in her home state.
Heathcote has dominated the Victory Stakes in recent years; winning with champion sprinter Buffering in 2011 and 2013.
The most interesting runner in the 2014 Victory Stakes field is Snitzerland, but the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner is no certainty to contest the race and has also been included in the acceptances for the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Snitzerland clearly did not relish the wet Royal Randwick track in the T.J. Smith Stakes on April 12, but Ryan is happy with the condition of the Snitzel mare ahead of whichever race she contests this weekend.
The Victory Stakes field is rounded out by Natalie McCall-trained River Lad (barrier six), Challenge Stakes placegetter Famous Seamus (barrier two) and the resuming Someday (barrier five).
