Interstate raider Salsonic has produced a huge turn of foot to fly home from the tail of the field and win the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Doomben Racecourse this afternoon.
Salsonic stormed home to win the Group 2 Queensland Guineas this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Salsonic missed the kick in the Queensland Guineas, but jockey Hugh Bowman remained patient aboard the horse and took a position on the rails as Dreams Aplenty, Oak Door and Oink set a break-neck tempo from the outset.
Settling into a good rhythm fifteen lengths off the pace of the Queensland Guineas leaders, Bowman began the work the horse into the race as the field approached the final turn, but allowed plenty of time before asking for an extra effort.
Appearing to simply have too much distance to make up on the runaway leaders with 300m to run, the Hinchinbrook gelding mustered a huge turn of foot to fly home on the outside of the field; finding the line a length ahead of $61 roughie Volpino; race favourite Niccanova running on for third.
Bowman was thrilled with the performance mustered by Salsonic to win the Queensland Guineas and believes that the horse will only improve come the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival.
”There’s no doubt that this horse can gallop!” Bowman said.
“I tell you what though, he’s got some growing up to do. He had a real think about it.
“I had to boil a ridiculous tempo early and halfway through I thought ‘well why aren’t they coming back to me yet?’, I should have been tacked on.
“I had to switch him on and get him involved, but if he can grow up in the mind, he’ll be a serious horse come the spring.”
Salsonic returned to the races for a credible third in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on April 29th and progressed to ninth in the Scone Guineas (1400m) and fourth in the M Taylor Outreach Program BM85 (1600m) leading into the Queensland Guineas this afternoon.
Volpino continued his return to form with a big run in the final straight to finish second, while Niccanova weaved through the field late in the Queensland Guineas, but left his sprint too late.
