Class sprinter The Bostonian will head to Melbourne on Wednesday as he gets ready to tackle the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.
Trainer Tony Pike is pleased with how the Jimmy Choux five-year-old has come through his winter break after a successful Queensland campaign that saw him strike twice at Group One level in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).
“He is looking a picture and has really wintered well,” Pike said.
“Last season he didn’t come out of his winter break nearly as well and I think that was pretty clear in the performances he put up.
“We brought him back straight after his last run at Brisbane in the Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) this time and he has thrived.”
Pike is realistic about the task ahead of his charge.
“There aren’t too many kiwi horses who take on the best sprinters in Australia but that’s the position we find ourselves in after his Queensland performances,” he said.
“I guess with the battle between Victoria and New South Wales racing it might see some of the better ones in Sydney rather than Melbourne but in saying that the competition will still be white hot wherever we go.
“He’s fully mature now and we think on what he did in Queensland he is up to the task, so we are about to find out.”
Pike will use a jump-out at Flemington on Friday to put the finishing touches on The Bostonian’s preparation for the Moir Stakes, a race that was won by Viddora last year before she went on to compete against the world’s best sprinters in the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) later in her campaign.
“He flies over Wednesday then will have a half mile jump-out at Flemington on the Friday,” Pike said.
“He goes well fresh and that jump-out should top him off nicely.
“It will be his first attempt at Moonee Valley but I think the track will suit him as he is pretty nippy and the surface doesn’t get rock hard which will be in his favour.
“As with most of those races the barrier draw will be crucial so we will be keen to draw well to give him his best chance.”
The Bostonian will be accompanied across the Tasman by last-start Hastings winner Spring Bouquet, with The Oaks Stud bred and owned mare kicking off her campaign in a Benchmark78 1600m contest at Flemington on September 25.
“The Oaks Stud were keen to test her (Spring Bouquet) in Melbourne so she will head over with The Bostonian,” Pike said.
“She will kick off over 1600m at Flemington and then we will place her from there. “She is a mare with a very good turn of foot so I expect her to be very competitive in the right grade over there.”
