The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) will target an unprecedented Brisbane sprinting treble, after claiming the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle farm on Saturday.
The Bostonian had already won the G1 Doomben 10,000 two weeks' ago and now takes aim at the G1 Stradbroke Hcp on June 8.
Proving his win in the 10,000 was no fluke, The Bostonian thrived on a brilliant ride from Michael Cahill to sit just off the pace before booting clear and winning the Kingsford Smith Cup by three quarters of a length.
Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) worked home nicely through the pack to grab second at massive odds, just ahead of the race favourite Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).
Dubious' (Not A Single Doubt) attempt to become the first 2-year-old winner of the race fell short, as the colt loomed at the 200m, only to finish fifth, 1.55l off the winner.
Trainer Tony Pike only decided to run The Bostonian in this race on Tuesday after a strong piece of work convinced him that an additional run wouldn’t harm the 4-year-old's chances of winning the Stradbroke in two weeks.
"We will probably get a re-handicap for the Stradbroke now, but it was too nice a race to turn up and his work on Tuesday was better than before the 10,000," Pike told Channel Seven after the race.
"We couldn’t really turn this race down and it was a great ride from Michael again."
The perfect ride
Cahill's ride was certainly key to the victory. Coming from barrier 11, within 200m, he had The Bostonian on the rail behind the leader Irithea (Snitzel), who would wind up finishing fourth.
With the pace not as strong as might have been expected, all he had to do from there was peel off the leader's back at the 300m mark and kick for home. The others had no hope of bridging the gap.
"The horse is always sharp out of the gates, and he can put himself into the race which helps. But he didn’t really have to do a lot of work either. Outstanding work by Michael and they seem to have a great association together," Pike said.
"The horse is always sharp out of the gates, and he can put himself into the race which helps." - Trainer Tony Pike
"He put him straight into the trail from an awkward gate and it was another good strong win. He loves it here in Queensland and he's flying."
The Bostonian stays unbeaten in Queensland having won a trio of races during last year's winter carnival and now two Group 1 victories this time in.
Michael Cahill and The Bostonian winning the G1 Kingsford-Smith S.
Veteran hoop Cahill has ridden him in all five of those wins and can’t wait to get aboard him again in the Stradbroke.
"You wouldn't want to be on anything else would you? He's the ideal type for it. He can race handy, he's got an explosive burst, I hope the handicappers are lenient on him," Cahill said.
"You wouldn't want to be on anything else would you?" - Jockey Michael Cahill
Cahill has now ridden five Group 1 winners and claimed a stakes double on the day after piloting Fun Fact (The Factor (USA}) to an upset all-the-way win in the G3 Grand Prix S.
History awaits
While the Doomben 10,000 - Stradbroke double has been done four times, most recently in 1988 by Campaign King (Saarond {GB}), no horse has been able to complete the Brisbane feature sprint treble, with the Kingsford Smith Cup upgraded to Group 1 level in 2006.
The Kiwi sprinter has become a terrific flagbearer for his sire Jimmy Choux (NZ), who recently relocated to Western Australia to stand at Rosalee Park.
Breeder David Archer retained The Bostonian to race and has been rewarded with over $1.25m in prizemoney thanks to nine wins from his first 16 starts.
Sire of The Bostonian, Jimmy Choux has recently relocated to Western Australia
He is out of Keepa Cheval (NZ), a half-sister to two-time New Zealand Racehorse of the Year and 10 x Group 1 winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
And Pike is likely to have two runners in the Stradbroke after Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) charged home from the rear of the field to finish sixth in the Kingsford Smith Cup, just 1.75l behind his stablemate.
