Prince Of Boom ended up working on his own at Eagle Farm on Tuesday morning but trainer Rob Heathcote was still happy with what he saw from the unbeaten two-year-old ahead of his tilt on the $1M Group 2 BRC Sires on Saturday.
Prince Of Boom has been installed favourite for the Sires after demolishing his rivals in this month’s Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic – just six days after making his debut at Caloundra.
Heathcote admits the big unknown is how well Prince Of Boom will hold together, as he is still only in his first racing preparation.
“That’s the key. This is his first time at the races,” he said.
“Maiden at Caloundra, Group 2 Doomben, stepping up to Group 2 which is akin to a Group 1 being a forerunner to the J.J. Atkins, out to a new distance and onto a Good track.
“There’s a few unknowns, but I’m happy with the horse though.”
Ben Thompson rode Prince Of Boom on Tuesday morning and will again take the ride on Saturday, having been aboard in both wins.
He told Heathcote not to be deterred by a little hiccup at the track on Tuesday.
“The work didn’t go as smoothly as I would have hoped,” Heathcote revealed.
“I sent him out with a stable companion and he worked off 150m in front of Prince Of Boom.
“Ben Thompson later said to me to try and catch him I feel (he) would have done too much work.
“He still worked good.
“I’m going into the race with a fit, healthy, sound racehorse. He was out there really to get a feel of the track, Ben said he handled it lovely, felt great on it.”
The Sires has drawn together a field comprising a number of different formlines, including those coming through the Ken Russell Memorial on the Gold Coast and Converge and Port Louis out of the Group 1 Champagne Stakes in Sydney.
“We’re going into the race on Saturday admittedly with some trepidation,” Heathcote said.
“We’re 4-1 favourite in a Group 2 $1Million race … there’s some new form coming into the race with Ranch Hand and (Converge) coming from Sydney.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Heathcote also let his Group 1 winner Rothfire onto the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday and will now send him for another short break before ramping up his work and aiming at a spring return in Sydney.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au
