Kiwi Group 1 winning sprinter The Bostonian will return to Australia to run in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 but his trainer Tony Pike might have to stay home in Cambridge.
The Bostonian, above in white colours with blue sleeves, is being at the Winx Stakes at Randwicjk, Photo by Steve Hart.
The Bostonian is booked to fly into Sydney five days before the Winx Stakes but while the Australian borders are closed, Pike or any of his staff are unable to accompany their stable star across the Tasman.
Pike is in discussions with Australian immigration authorities to see if they can get an exemption for him or his staff to enter Australia.
“At this stage there is no problems in getting the horses across, but with what has been happening in Victoria of late the Government has probably got a little bit edgy and things aren’t moving quite as quick as we were hoping,” Pike told RSN927.
“We had a meeting with one of the immigration experts over there (Australia) who was working with all the stud farms to get the shuttle stallions and grooms in for the breeding season.
“She was having a meeting with ministers last night (Monday), so we are going to have a catch up and see if we can progress it.
“At this stage she is hopeful that she can get us an exemption to get in, but time is of the essence. We are getting closer to the Spring Carnival and if or when we can get over is the million-dollar question at this point in time.”
Pike is happy with the way The Bostonian has returned to his stables after a break and has the gelding booked to trial at Taupo on August 12th.
“The Bostonian has come back really well. I can’t fault the horse. He is having an exhibition gallop at Hastings tomorrow (Wednesday) over 1000m,” Pike told RSN927.
“He will then trial on the 12th of August at Taupo before flying over on the 17th for the Winx Stakes on the 22nd.
“There are a number of options for him. We will just get him through the Winx Stakes first.”
The Bostonian claimed his third Group 1 win with his victory in the $500,000 Heineken 3 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival and Pike is hoping he can quickly find his Group 1 winning form and come under the spotlight of some of The Everest slot holders.
“If it happened to be a wet Sydney Carnival and a few of the slot-holders are running out of horses for The Everest, he would be a chance on a wet track in a race like that,” Pike said.
“The alternative option is to step up to a mile for the George Main Stakes and those sort of races.”
The $15m The Everest (1200m) is run at Randwick on October 17 while the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) is at Randwick on September 19.
The Chris Waller trained Funstar has been installed as the early $6.50 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Winx Stakes ahead of Kiwi star Melody Belle at $7 and the Team Hawkes trained Master Of Wine at $8.50 while The Bostonian is marked at $17.
Early betting for the Winx Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6.50 Funstar, $7 Melody Belle, $8.50 Master Of Wine, $10 Dreamforce, $11 Verry Elleegant, $12 Brandenburg, Fierce Impact, $15 Alligator Blood, Flit, Probabeel, $17 Catalyst, Rubisaki, The Bostonian, $19 Con Te Partiro, $21 Fasika, Kinane, Kolding, Quackerjack, $26 Avilius, Cascadian, Colette, Danzdanzdance, Kings Will Dream, Star Of The Seas, $31 Homesman, Imaging, Mister Sea Wolf, $34 or better the rest.
