A superb ride from Michael Cahill saw Kiwi sprinter The Bostonian score back to back Group 1 wins with victory in the $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm today.
Michael Cahill, above, rode a superb race to win the 2019 Kingsford-Smith Cup on The Bostonian at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Cahill was aboard the Tony Pike trained The Bostonian when he won the Group 1 $800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) two weeks ago from an inside barrier but today the in-form hoop had to work his magic from an awkward gate.
Cahill had The Bostonian on the fence behind the leading division in the run to the first turn and as he did in the Doomben 10,000, weaved a passage in between runners in the straight to claim the major prize again.
The Bostonain ($10) had three quarters of a length to spare over the outsider of the field Princess Posh ($151) with the $5.50 favourite Trekking running his usual honest race to fill third spot.
The Bostonian is now undefeated from five starts in The Sunshine State after winning a hat trick as a three year old during the 2018 Queensland Winter Carnival.
The Tony Pike trained four year old made the trip across the Tasman again this year to win the Doomben 10,000 before today’s victory.
Pike said that The Bostonian will try to maintain his Queensland winning momentum when he lines up in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in two weeks time.
“We are going to get a re-handicap for the Stradbroke, but it (Kingsford-Smith Cup) was too nice a race to turn up,” Pike said.
“His work on Tuesday morning was probably better than before the 10,000. So we couldn’t really turn this race down.”
“A great ride from Michael again. He put him straight into the trail from an awkward gate and another good strong win.”
“He just loves it here in Queensland and he is flying.”
“The horse is very sharp out of the gates and he can put himself in the race which helps.”
“He really didn’t have to do a lot of work to get across either.”
“It was an outstanding ride by Michael and they just seem to have a great association together.”
“Two weeks to the Stradbroke and we will just keep ticking him over now.”
The Bostobnian is now the $5 outright favourite for the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au.
