Written by Paul Vettise
An unbeaten partnership will be reunited this weekend with Queensland jockey Michael Cahill making a trip to New Zealand to team up with the in-form sprinter-miler Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park).
Trained by Tony Pike, the 4-year-old will step out at Otaki in the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic and Cahill didn’t need to be asked twice to climb back aboard the gelding.
Also crossing the Tasman will be expatriate Kiwi jockey Larry Cassidy, who will ride the Chris Waller-trained Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the feature.
Bostonian is in fine touch this season. Following a sound fifth in the G1 Telegraph at Trentham he was narrowly beaten last start
by the top mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in the G1 BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa.
Bostonian
“Vinny wasn’t quite sure if we were heading to Otaki and he had pre-booked himself for the Matamata Breeders’ S., which is on the same day,” Pike said.
“Michael knows the horse well and he mentioned a while ago that he would be quite keen to come over and ride him again.” – Tony Pike.
“We were stuck without a rider with plenty of suspensions around.
“Michael knows the horse well and he mentioned a while ago that he would be quite keen to come over and ride him again.”
Cahill partnered up with Bostonian at the Queensland winter carnival last year and the combination went through the festival undefeated.
A first-up success in the Listed Daybreak Lover was followed by an all-the-way win at Doomben and the campaign closed off with victory in the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in his first attempt at 1600 metres, the distance of Saturday’s challenge.
Jockey Michael Cahill
“The horse is very well, although he’s probably looking for a shower or rain. That would be perfect,” Pike said.
“The horse is very well, although he’s probably looking for a shower or rain.” – Tony Pike.
“At this level, 1200 metres is a touch sharp for him and he travelled much better at Te Rapa over 1400 metres.”
Pike is again looking at his Queensland options with Bostonian later in the season.
“Sydney may possibly be a step too far for him, he’s only four and doing a good job,” he said. “He’ll run on Saturday and then I can give him some time off and get him ready for Brisbane.”
“He’ll run on Saturday and then I can give him some time off and get him ready for Brisbane.” – Tony Pike.
He is raced by his breeder David Archer, whose colours were also carried by Bostonian’s relative (King) Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), whose 10 Group 1 wins included the Haunui Farm WFA Classic.
Bostonian is a son of the Keeper mare Keepa Cheval (NZ), who is a half-sister to the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa.
Bostonian
Cassidy hasn’t ridden in New Zealand for eight years and jumped at the opportunity to partner Endless Drama. He has yet to win at Group 1 level and, being a stallion, the Otaki race is potentially one to boost his prospects.
“I’m really looking forward to it and the horse is a good chance.” – Larry Cassidy.
He finished runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas as a younger horse and his best Australian result was success in last season’s G2 Apollo S. at Randwick.
“The Chris Waller team gave me a call to see if I was interested in coming over,” Cassidy said.
“I had one or two rides for them at Eagle Farm so I said yes. I’m really looking forward to it and the horse is a good chance.”
Meanwhile, Bostonian’s stablemate Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) has come through his G2 Avondale Guineas heroics in fine fettle.
“He only won by a narrow margin, but he took off a long way from home and had to hold a sustained gallop,” Pike said.
“He only won by a narrow margin, but he took off a long way from home and had to hold a sustained gallop.” – Tony Pike.
“He’s always showed plenty of ability and it was a shame in the Karaka Million (3YO Classic) that he got shuffled up in a slowly-run race and got a long way off them. It’s good to get him back in the winner’s circle.
“That’s the first time Vinnie has ridden him and he’ll learn a lot.”
Pike will now keep Surely Sacred ticking over until the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on Saturday week and he has no concerns about the 2400 metre trip for the pre-post favourite.
“He’ll stay and he’s got a very good turn of foot,” he said.
“He’ll stay and he’s got a very good turn of foot.” – Tony Pike.
Offered by breeders Waikato Stud at Karaka, Surely Sacred was purchased for NZ$160,000 by Raffles Racing’s Bruce Sherwin.
“Bruce and I picked him out at Karaka. It was a high price at the time for a Rock ‘n’ Pop, but he was a gorgeous yearling and really stood out,” Pike said.
“We paid a little bit of overs to get him, but it might be a cheap buy now.
Surely Sacred
“The first time we look we forget the pedigree page and look at the type and he was a nice sort and very athletic.”
“We paid a little bit of overs to get him, but it might be a cheap buy now.” – Tony Pike.
Surely Sacred is out of Not Sure (NZ) (Masterclass {USA}) and is a half-brother to the G3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). She is the dam of Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who Pike trained to win the G1 Queensland Oaks.
“Waikato Stud has retained Surely Sacred’s sister. She had a light preparation here about six weeks ago and she’s back in pre-training,” Pike said.
“She’s only two and a touch immature and I’m looking forward to seeing her again when she comes back into the stable.”
